Possible Procedures

Due to the emergent nature of your child’s condition, the following procedures and/or treatments may be necessary before, during, or after arrival to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. Most of these procedures/treatments are considered routine and the standard of care, and don’t require special consent. Your child may need a procedure that requires special consent. In that case, our staff will discuss that with you in more detail. This information is being provided to you in an effort to keep you as informed as possible during your child’s hospitalization.

Your child’s doctor or nurse is available to answer any questions that you may have regarding the medical treatment that your son or daughter needs at anytime during his/her hospitalization. Please make a note of things or explanations that you don’t understand so that our PICU staff can assist you to the best of our ability.

Use of ventilator or breathing-assist device

Your child may require help with his/her breathing in order to maintain oxygen supply to vital organs and reduce carbon dioxide. Complications include, but are not limited to, trauma to the oral cavity, breathing tubes and lungs. Collapse of one or both lungs may occur. Placement of a tube through the vocal cords (intubation) is needed to use the ventilator.

Use of oxygen

Your child may need high levels of oxygen as part of his/her condition. Your child may have a small, flexible tube (nasal canula) that helps push oxygen into your child’s nose.

Placement of a chest tube

A plastic tube may need to be inserted through your child’s chest wall should a severe lung collapse (pneumothorax) occur. Bleeding, puncture of the lung and infection are possible complications.

Placement of catheters

Catheterization of the urinary bladder is a common procedure that can be emotionally and physically traumatic for your child. Procedures and techniques are in place that will minimize the physical and emotional discomfort.

Lumbar puncture

If your child is suspected of having an infection of the lining around the brain (meningitis), then a procedure is needed to sample CSF fluid. This involves the placement of a small needle through the skin between the bones of the lower back. The CSF fluid is then removed to check for germs. Risks may include a rare chance of infection, bleeding or a drop in oxygen level of heart rate.

Intubation

Placement of a breathing tube into the patient's body.