Recovery Room/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Once surgery has been completed, your child will be brought to the recovery room, also called the post-anesthesia care unit. Intensive Care Intensive care is needed for children who have had certain types of major surgery: heart operations, organ transplants, or neurosurgery. Discomforts and Complications After Surgery Common discomforts after surgery include nausea and vomiting, soreness in the throat, and restlessness or sleeplessness. Pain Control If your child has moderate to severe pain, he or she may receive narcotics during and after surgery. If your child is in the ICU after surgery, he or she may receive sedatives along with pain medications. Play Therapy Play therapy is used to help children understand and cope with illness, surgery, hospitalization, treatments, and procedures. Discharge from the Hospital Even after minor surgery, some children will remain in the hospital overnight for observation and to receive medications to help with pain or to prevent infection. Protect Your Child from Medical Errors A medical error can occur when something that was planned for medical care doesn't work, or when the wrong plan was used in the first place.