Phone -- 314.454.2514
Instructions for Parents
On the Day of the Procedure or Test
Finding the APC
Admission
Evaluation
Recovery and Discharge
When Hospitalization is Necessary
For More Information
KidGuide Services
The Ambulatory Procedure Center (APC) is one of the few pediatric specialty centers in the country that focuses on providing moderate sedation to general anesthesia for children undergoing a variety of procedures. These procedures may be from radiology, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, cardiology, ophthalmology, plastic surgery and more.
Our combination of skills and services not only optimizes medical expertise and nursing care, but also maintains a more family-friendly environment that can be much less stressful for your child.
For some procedures, moderate sedation and pain relief is all that is required to ensure your child's comfort and provide for adequate testing and/or treatment. Occasionally, the nursing staff, in consultation with the physicians, may determine that general anesthesia administered by a specially trained pediatric anesthesiologist is more appropriate for your child's procedure or treatment.
Instructions for Parents
Three days prior to your child’s procedure/test a nurse from the APC will call to give you instructions on the time you and your child should arrive. If you have not been contacted by 3:00 pm the weekday before the procedure/test, please call 314.454.2514.
The nurse will review your child's medical history and current health status with you, and discuss how to handle medications your child may be taking.
This call will give you an opportunity to address any concerns you may have about your child's preparation, the procedure/test, or anesthesia. We welcome your questions, so please do not hesitate to ask.
Finally, the nurse will provide instructions for the time your child must stop eating or drinking in preparation for the procedure/test. In addition, we ask that you not eat or drink in front of your child during this same period. These instructions must be followed or the procedure/test will be canceled.
Children should be bathed, hair washed and teeth brushed the night before their procedure. No contact lenses or make-up may be worn. Finger nail polish must be removed. All jewelry should be removed including earrings and piercings. Females over 10 years of age will need to give a urine sample upon arrival.
On The Day of the Procedure or Test
To help your child feel comfortable and secure, you may want to bring a favorite toy, blanket, or other Item from home - which may accompany them into the procedure room. If your child uses a special bottle or cup, feel free to bring it as well for use after the procedure is complete.
Finding the APC:
St. Louis Children's Hospital is located at the intersection of Kingshighway and Children's Place.
Once you turn on Children's Place, the hospital's visitor parking garage is immediately on your right, and allows covered access directly into the hospital from the second level.
The APC is located on the first floor of the hospital. If you enter the hospital from the visitor-parking garage you will be on the second floor. Please stop at the information desk and check in with KidGuide. Let them know you are to be seen in the APC The information desk staff will direct you to the Admitting department prior to going to the APC. If you enter on the first floor or street level, please stop at the first floor information desk and they will give you directions. Maps in the back of this brochure can also help you find your way.
All hospital visitors, including parents, are required to wear name badges that can be obtained at the first and second floor information desks.
Admission
A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to sign admission papers and sedation consent forms. Be sure to bring all insurance forms and identification cards that might be needed. This is important information for your child’s medical and hospital records. If your insurance plan requires pre-certification, please inform the admitting clerk and your physician.
Only two adults may accompany a child through the APC. Please make other arrangements for siblings on the day of the procedure or test. The child receiving treatment will need your full attention. For information on the child’s progress on the day of the procedure/test, relatives and friends may call the APC, 314.454.2514.
Please do not bring food or drink into the APC.
Evaluation
After admission, a nurse or KidGuide will escort you to the APC where your child's weight and vital signs will be taken during a brief examination. In addition to asking questions regarding your child's current and previous health status, the nurse will explain all aspects of the procedure, including sedation and aftercare.
The APC also offers child life specialists to help explain procedures/tests to children. A child life specialist is specially trained to help patients understand the procedures/test and help them cope with being at the hospital. If you would like to have a child life specialist available for your child, please ask your nurse.
Sometimes, seemingly minor illnesses, such as colds and allergies, can cause problems during sedation/anesthesia. If a minor illness raises sufficient concerns that warrant postponing the procedure/test, a follow-up date will be selected after your child is fully recovered.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital Ambulatory Procedure Center offers several types of sedation. Registered nurses and hospitalists, who have specialized training in sedation, administer medications performed in the APC. Some patients require general anesthesia for their procedures due to medical history. The type of sedation that your child requires is made prior to the procedure by our phone nurses. To contact the phone nurse call 314.454.4778.
Recovery and Discharge
Because children awaken from sedation/anesthesia at different rates, recovery times may vary. Immediately after procedures/tests, children may recover in the procedure room or be moved to a recovery area within the APC. Children are closely observed and intensely monitored as they emerge from sedation/anesthesia, and parents are encouraged to be at the bedside.
When your child is ready to be discharged, the APC nurse will speak with you and provide instructions for your child's at-home care and appropriate phone numbers for emergencies.
Most children need to be awake, alert and drinking fluids before they are discharged. It is also important for you as a parent to feel comfortable with the discharge process. Do not hesitate to ask questions.
When Hospitalization Is Necessary
Occasionally, a physician will admit an APC patient to the hospital. If so, parents will accompany their child to the assigned hospital room. Admission for an overnight or longer stay is based on the child's progress, the type of procedure performed, and the physician's evaluation as to whether a longer observation would benefit your child. For assistance with overnight accommodations, call our information desk at 314.454.2615.
For More Information
If you have any other questions or concerns about your child's condition after arriving back home, do not hesitate to contact The St. Louis Children's Hospital Answer Line. The Answer Line is the only service in St. Louis staffed entirely by pediatric nurses. Our nurses are trained to assess a child's medical needs, and provide expert advice based on established medical guidelines.
They can also address questions on common childhood illnesses, health and wellness advice and offer general parenting information. To reach the Answer Line, call 314.454.KIDS (5437) or 800.678.KIDS (5437).
KidGuide Services
A KidGuide representative is available to help you with the complexities of medical insurance plans and agency programs. They also can help you with Medicaid, Special Health Care needs programs and other agencies. For assistance, call 866.227.6644 or stop by the office located in Admitting on the first floor.