Maybe you've seen an operating room on TV or you know someone who's had an operation in one. It sounds mysterious and interesting - but what's it really all about?

What Is the Operating Room?
The operating room, sometimes called the OR or surgery center, is where surgery (say: surj-eh-ree) takes place in a hospital. Having a surgery is also called having an operation. When someone has surgery, a special doctor called a surgeon (say: sir-jen) works on or inside the body to fix something that is wrong.

Why Would a Kid Need to Go to the OR?
There are lots of common surgeries for kids. One common surgery is having special tubes put in the eardrums to help prevent ear infections and improve hearing. Or someone who gets tonsillitis again and again may need a tonsillectomy (tonsils taken out to prevent more infections). Some kids need surgery to repair something they've been born with, such as a cleft palate, which is a gap or opening in the roof of the mouth.