A visit to the Gastroenterology Procedure Unit (GPU) requires some planning and preparation. Depending on the procedure, your child may need to fast or do a more involved prep. This helps ensure that your child is safe during the procedure. These preparations are important because food and drink — including liquids, solid foods, and breast milk — collect in the stomach. When a child goes to sleep under anesthesia, food and liquid stored in the stomach can rise up and enter the lungs, which can cause pneumonia.
When we schedule your child’s procedure, the GPU coordinator will let you know the specifics of the prep your child should follow. If the prep involves a simple fast, we will let you know over the phone. If the prep involves a total bowel cleanout, we will email you details about a week before your child’s procedure date. If your child doesn’t follow prep instructions or eats or drinks after the allowed time, we may need to delay or cancel the procedure.
If you have any questions about preparing for your child’s procedure, please call our triage nurse at 617-355-6172, option 3.
