Health Topics

The doctor will be looking for signs of inflammation or the presence of irritation or ulcers. Many times, biopsies are taken. Biopsies are small pieces of tissue that are taken at the time of the procedure.

The doctors will look at the tissue under the microscope. They are looking for change that could be causing your child's symptoms.

There are pre-operative education classes available from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center that help prepare your child for his/her surgery day. These classes are offered several times a week and last about two hours. We have found that these classes can lessen a child's fears and make the hospital experience much more positive.

To register or for more information call 513-636-8298.

It would be helpful if you arranged for your child to have a physical examination done by your family physician or pediatrician within 28 days of the surgery date. Bring a copy of this physical with you on the day of surgery.

Your child can eat whatever he/she wants the day before the procedure. After midnight the day of the procedure, your child may have no solid food, milk, or soy products. Your child may have clear liquids until four hours before the procedure. Then your child is to have nothing to eat or drink until the endoscopy procedure is completed. Clear liquids include any liquid that you can see through and is liquid at room temperature. Examples include: 

• Jell-O® 
• Apple juice 
• Pedialyte® 
• Popsicles 
• Chicken broth 
• Gatorade® 
• Kool-Aid®

Note: Do NOT give your child red liquids.  

Please encourage your child to drink these fluids. When coming to the hospital, your child can wear anything he/she feels comfortable in; pajamas, sweat suits, shorts, etc. You will report to Same Day Surgery registration on the 3rd floor of Location B (Hospital Tower). Please arrive 90 minutes before your child's scheduled procedure. This extra time allows you to fill out paperwork, sign the surgical consent, and get your child checked in (weight, height, blood pressure, etc.). You will also talk with a doctor about the medicines used for anesthesia.