Discharge Instructions for Coronary Angioplasty and Stenting

During your angioplasty, a doctor inserts a thin tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in your groin or wrist. The catheter is pushed through your blood vessel to a blocked area in one of your heart’s arteries. The doctor inflates a tiny balloon at the tip of the catheter and stretches the blocked vessel so blood can flow freely. The balloon is then deflated and removed with the catheter. The doctor may also insert a metal mesh tube called a stent in the blocked vessel. The stent helps the vessel stay open. You may get several stents if you have blockages in more than one of your arteries. You may also get several stents in one artery if it is a long blockage.

Home care

• Do not drive, sign legal documents, or make any important decisions for 24 hours after receiving any type of sedation or anesthesia. 
• Arrange to have a responsible adult drive you home after your procedure.
• Rest for 2 to 3 days after the procedure. Return to normal activity as directed by your healthcare team.
• Take your temperature and check your incision for signs of infection every day for a week. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, drainage, or warmth.
• It is normal to have a small bruise or bump where the catheter was inserted. A bruise that is getting larger is not normal and should be reported to your healthcare team. If you see blood forming in the incision, call your healthcare team.
• Take your medicines exactly as directed. Do not skip doses. It is important to take aspirin or other similar medicines for as long as your doctor advises. If you were also prescribed blood thinners such as clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient), or ticagrelor (Brilinta), it is very important to take these medicines as well. These medicines prevent clots that could cause a heart attack. If you have a problem with any of your medicines, call healthcare provider right away.
• If you have uncontrolled bleeding from the insertion site, lie down, hold pressure andcall 911.  This may be especially true if you take medicines that make it hard for your blood to clot (blood thinners).
• Unless told otherwise, drink plenty of fluids (non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic fluids) to help flush your body of the dye that was used during your angioplasty. Let your healthcare provider know if the color of your urine changes and does not return to normal color.
• Eat a healthy diet that is low in fat, salt, and cholesterol. Ask your healthcare team for menus and other diet information.
• Exercise according to your healthcare team's recommendations. Depending on your case, your team may recommend you start a cardiac rehabilitation program. Cardiac rehab is an exercise program in which trained healthcare staff monitor your progress and stress on your heart while you exercise. Ask how to enroll if your team recommends this program.
• Do not swim or take a bath for 5 to 7 days. You may shower the day after the procedure. This keeps the incision site from getting wet and infected while the skin and artery heal. Keep the site clean and dry.

 Follow-up care

• Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff. Follow-up appointments are usually scheduled for 2 to 4 weeks after an angioplasty or coronary stent procedure.
• Have a yearly checkup to make sure you are still doing well and not having any new symptoms.
• Call your healthcare provider if your medicines are not working or you are having heart-related symptoms.