Anesthesiology (Pain Management)

A surgical event or any visit to a hospital can be a daunting experience for a child. Preparing a child for surgery or other diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, such as a CT scan or cardiac catheterization, and ensuring his or her comfort and safety is the primary role of an anesthesiologist.

Administering anesthesia to children requires special attention and consideration. Chief among the concerns are mitigating or eliminating side effects or adverse effects. Lake Forest Hospital’s Department of Anesthesiology is staffed by physicians who specialize in pediatric and neonatal anesthesia. These anesthesiologists, board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, support our surgical team on inpatient and outpatient surgeries as well as our obstetrics practice and emergency and acute care medicine departments. In addition, they practice at the hospital’s Center for Rehabilitation and Pain Management as well as our ACL Interventional Pain Physicians office at our Grayslake location.

Anesthesia for surgery—Lake Forest Hospital maintains the highest standards for anesthesia care and is committed to the emotional and physical well-being of children undergoing a surgical procedure. A board-certified anesthesiologist will assure that your child is safe and comfortable prior to, during, and after your child’s surgery. We follow national standards for sterility and monitoring, and state-of-the-art equipment and technology are employed.

Prior to surgery, you will meet with the anesthesiologist, who will review your child’s history and confer with you to formulate an anesthetic plan (including provisions for managing post-operative pain). He or she will also address any questions or concerns you might have. Children often experience pre-operative fear or anxiety, and your anesthesiologist will discuss options to manage their stress prior to surgery. If indicated, your child will be observed post-surgery in an area known as the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), formally known as the Recovery Room.

Anesthesia outside the operating room—Circumstances may arise, which are not related to surgery, when your child may require general anesthesia. For example, general anesthesia may be used to increase a child’s comfort level during radiation therapy, a CT scan or with procedures used in treating cancer. Our anesthesiologists adhere to strict guidelines in the use of and administration of non-operative anesthesia for children.