Before the Procedure:

For a planned surgery (not an emergency), you will need to prepare your child.

During the days before the surgery:

• Tell your doctor or nurse what drugs, vitamins, or herbs you are giving your child. This includes anything you bought without a prescription. You may be asked to stop giving your child some of these medications in the days before the surgery.
• Ask your child's doctor which drugs your child should still take on the day of the surgery.

On the day of the surgery:

• Give your child a small sip of water with any drugs your doctor told you to give your child.
• Your child's doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive for the surgery.

Ask your doctor or nurse about your child's eating and drinking before the surgery. General guidelines are:

• Older children should not eat any food or drink any milk after midnight the night before the operation. They can have clear fluids (juice or water) and breast milk up to 4 hours before the operation.
• Infants younger than 12 months can usually eat formula, cereal, or baby food until about 6 hours before surgery. They may have clear fluids and breast milk until 4 hours before surgery.

Your doctor may ask you to wash your child with a special soap on the morning of the surgery. Rinse your child well afterwards.

After the Procedure:

After the open surgery, your child will be taken to an intensive care unit (ICU). After 1 or 2 days, your child will be moved to a regular hospital room. Your child will stay in the hospital for 3 to 7 days.

• Your child will have a large bandage wrapped around the head. There will also be an IV (a tube that goes into the vein). The nurses will watch your child closely.
• Tests will be done to see if your child lost too much blood during surgery. The doctor may give your child blood through a transfusion if needed.
• Your child will have swelling and bruising around the eyes and face. Sometimes, the eyes may be swollen shut. This often gets worse in the first 3 days after surgery, but it will be better by day 7.
• Your child should stay in bed for the first few days. The nurses will keep the head of your child's bed raised to help keep the swelling down.

Talking and singing, playing music and telling stories may help soothe your child. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is used for pain, but your nurse will have other pain medicines if your child needs them.

Most children who have endoscopic surgery can go home after staying in the hospital 1 night.

Outlook (Prognosis):

Most of the time, the outcome from craniosynostosis repair is good.