Will my child be given a sedative before surgery?

In the past, virtually every child received an injected sedative before being taken to the operating room. We now realize that many children need less sedation when calm, assured and confident parents help them through the stress of a procedure or hospitalization. In spite of parents' reassurances, however, some children still may require medicine to calm them before surgery. This medication may be given by mouth, injection or rectal suppository. The time before surgery that such premedication is given will vary. The type of medicine used, if any, will be determined by the anesthesiologist during the preoperative visit.