Patient Instructions After Heart Catheterization
Congratulations on your successful heart catheterization.
Please
follow these instructions until your office visit.
Activities:You can
shower today and take a tub bath tomorrow.
You can
resume all your normal activities tomorrow with the following exceptions:
Avoid
strenuous leg activities such as running upstairs or playing tennis for two
days.
Avoid driving
a car for the first two days.
Wound
care:You can soak
and remove the dressing in the shower the morning after your catheterization.
Between
baths, keep the groin clean and dry.
It should not
require another bandage, but you may cover the site with a Band-Aid if you wish.
The groin
site may ooze a single drop of dark blood.
Any other
bleeding should be treated as an emergency.
Apply firm,
direct pressure over the site and go to the Emergency Department. Don't drive
yourself.
Diet:
You should
eat a reasonable low fat low cholesterol diet (less than 30
g of saturated fat in less than 300 mg of cholesterol a day.)
Information
and meal plans are available from the Flagler Hospital Dietary Service and on
the Internet.
Smoking:Don't smoke.
If you cannot
stop smoking, call me in the office from my private line to discuss medical and
other treatments to help you stop.
Follow up:
When you
get home, call my office at 810-1045 for a follow-up visit. Tell them
that you are to be seen within two weeks of your catheterization.
Remember to
bring your medicines with you to that office visit.
Until your
appointment, you should call to report any fever, chills, bleeding, or chest
pain.
Feel free to
call with any question or problem.
If the office
is closed, you can reach me directly at 904 806-0001.
|
