Whether a child is having minor surgery or the most complex procedure, the operating rooms at Texas Children’s Hospital provide comprehensive state-of-the-art facilities, services, technology and support. Each year, approximately 23,000 cases are completed in 26 operating rooms at 4 sites within Texas Children’s Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. From admission to recovery, our more than 500 member surgical team is dedicated to ensuring an optimal experience for every patient.
All operating rooms are fully integrated with the integrated delivery system’s electronic medical record, endoscopic equipment, including advanced fetoscopes, and same-floor instrument processing to ensure the highest level of efficiency, patient care and safety.
Because we know surgery can cause anxiety for children and their parents, we have implemented a number of processes in the operating rooms to help the experience go more smoothly.
- A “virtual OR” simulator educates parents and patients about what happens during surgery.
- Color-coded pajamas are provided and scents, such as bubble gum, are applied to the anesthesia masks to help ease the child’s concerns.
- Child life specialists provide developmental, educational and therapeutic interventions for children undergoing medical treatment. Our specialists work with children to effectively manage stress and reduce anxiety prior to surgery.
Our surgeons also perform surgery at the bedsides of children too sick to move, and our mobile team, including board certified pediatric anesthesiologists, can travel to any site in the hospital to treat our patients.
Operating Room Locations
Texas Children’s Clinical Care Center
Each year more than 10,000 surgical procedures take place in these 8 operating rooms. Located on the 7th floor of the Clinical Care Center, the operating rooms are predominantly used for outpatient procedures.
Texas Children’s West Tower
Main Operating Rooms
Used primarily for inpatient and emergent procedures, these 11 operating rooms are located on the 3rd floor of the West Tower. More than 11,300 surgical procedures are completed each year including some of the most complex transplant, neurological and trauma cases.
Cardiovascular Operating Rooms
Three cardiovascular operating rooms are located on the 18th floor of the West Tower. Connected to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, more than 800 procedures focused on treating children with cardiovascular diseases take place in these operating rooms each year. Surgeons collaborate closely with pediatric cardiologists and cardiac intensivists to provide the highest level of patient care.
Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus
Located on the 3rd floor of Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, these 4 operating rooms are used primarily for outpatient and select emergent procedures. Opened in 2011, more than 1,100 surgical operations were completed in the first year and we expect upwards of 4,000 procedures to take place by the end of 2012.
