Your Child’s Care Before a Cardiac Procedure
It’s natural to have questions when your child is going to have a cardiac procedure. You may want to know about the procedure or helpful ways to prepare your child. Your child’s team will talk to you about the procedure and answer your questions. We hope the information below helps too. As your child’s parent or caregiver, you are our most important partner. Please let us know if you have questions or concerns.
Patient Name: _____________________________________________
Procedure Name: __________________________________________
Date of Procedure: __________________ Time ______________ AM/PM
Eating and Drinking Guidelines
For your child’s health and safety, it is important to follow these eating and drinking guidelines. This may be difficult for your child, so your praise and support will help. If your child is unable to follow these guidelines, please call (212) 263-5940 to discuss the plan with your child’s doctor or nurse practitioner.
If your child’s procedure is scheduled at 6am:
- No food or formula after 12am (midnight) the night before.
- No breast milk after 2am.
- No water or clear liquids (water, apple juice, Pedialyte) after 4am.
If your child’s procedure is scheduled at 10am:
- No food or formula after 4am.
- No breast milk after 6am.
- No water or clear liquids (water, apple juice, Pedialyte) after 8am.
If your child’s procedure is scheduled at 1PM:
- No food or formula after 7am the day of the procedure.
- No breast milk after 9am.
- No water or clear liquids (water, apple juice, Pedialyte) after 11am.
Medication Instructions:
Additional Instructions:
What do you bring?
- Your child should wear comfortable clothing.
- Your child may wish to bring a favorite toy.
- If your child is staying overnight, please bring slippers and comfortable clothes to change into.
Where do you bring your child?
Hassenfeld Children's Hospital (HCH) - 34th Street
424 E 34th Street (Between First Avenue and FDR Drive)
New York, NY 10016
- It’s easy to find. Just look for the giant statue of Spot the Dog balancing a taxi on its nose.
- Come in the HCH entrance and go to the 4th floor (Kimmel Pavilion).
- If you are running late, please call 212-263-5555.
Look for Spot at the entrance to Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital
The Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital healthcare team is here for you.
You can call the Pediatric Cardiology Office 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Call us at (212) 263-5940 if:
- your child is sick the week of the procedure.
- your child is unable to come in for the procedure.
- something does not look or feel right.
- you have questions or concerns.
If your child is sick the week of the procedure or is unable to come in, please call us as soon as possible. That way, we can work together to take the right action for your child’s health and well-being.
Interpreters
It’s important to us that you get the information and support you need.
- If you need an interpreter, we can schedule one for you during the procedure.
- Interpreters are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week over the phone.
We hope this information is helpful. We welcome your questions and concerns.
Please let us know how we can support your child and family.
© NYU Langone Health. All rights reserved. Reviewed for health literacy. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.
Created in partnership with families and expertise from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care