Questions to ask when selecting a surgeon...

• How long have you practiced?

• How many clefts have you repaired?

• Do you have pictures of children whose clefts you've repaired?

• Can you refer us to their parents?

Questions to ask about the procedure...

• How long will the surgery last?

• Exactly how will the procedure be done? (Be sure to repeat this back so that you have complete understanding of what will be going on.)

• Will my child need a blood transfusion?

• Can I donate blood beforehand for her?

• Has my child's blood been typed?

• Will there be any 'teaching' going on in the surgery?

• Will anyone other than our surgeon be performing the actual surgery?

• What will be the effect of scarring?

• Where will the physical scars be located?

• What types of events after surgery can make scarring worse?

• What types of physical distress will there be (i.e. swelling, bruising, redness of the area?)

• How long will these last?

• Is the anesthesiologist used to working with children?

• Can we (the parents) be present when the anesthesia is administered?

• In the recovery room?

• What will be the time in the recovery room?

• When will the sutures be removed? Is this an office or hospital procedure?

• What type of diet will be required?

• Can my child use a bottle? Cup? Spoon? If not, when can she begin using these again?

Questions of the hospital administrator...

• Can my spouse and I both stay with our child?

• Can extended family stay with the child in the parents' absence? (ie. grandma, grandpa, aunt, etc.)

• Is there a shower available?

• Do we have access to the Ronald McDonald House?

• What are the cafeteria hours?

• Can I have food brought in for myself?

• Are you sure there isn't anything more comfortable than this joke of a recliner??

• Can we bring our own stroller?

Questions to ask about aftercare...

• What type of pain medicine can my child have?

• How often can she have it?

• Who do I call if I feel this is not enough?

• Should we clean the sutures? How do we do this? How often?

• Do we need to put on a dressing (tape, gauze, etc.?)

• What types of things are warning signs for infection?

• Whom should we call if we see any signs? Surgeon? Primary Care Physician?

• How long will the IV need to be in?

• Is coughing up blood normal?

• After how long a duration should I begin to get concerned?

• Will my child need to use arm restraints?

• For how long?

• What about supervised periods of time without them?

• When can my child return to her regular diet?

• When will our follow-up visit be?

• Do I need to make this appointment myself or will the hospital staff make it for me?

• What type of pain medication should we use at home?