What To Expect After Coronary Angioplasty
After coronary angioplasty, you will be moved to a
special care unit, where you will stay for a few hours or overnight. While you
recover in this area, you must lie still for a few hours to allow the blood
vessels in your arm or groin (upper thigh) to seal completely.
While you recover, nurses will check your heart rate
and blood pressure. They also will check your arm or groin for bleeding. After
a few hours, you will be able to walk with help.
The place where the tube was inserted may feel sore
or tender for about a week.
Going Home
Most people go home 1 to 2 days after the procedure.
When your doctor thinks you're ready to leave the hospital, you will get
instructions to follow at home, including:
- How much activity or exercise you can do.
- When you should follow up with your doctor.
- What medicines you should take.
- What you should look for daily when checking for
signs of infection around the area where the tube was inserted. Signs of
infection may include redness, swelling, or drainage.
- When you should call your doctor. For example,
you may need to call if you have a fever or signs of infection, pain or
bleeding where the catheter was inserted, or shortness of breath.
- When you should call 911 (for
example, if you have any chest pain).
Your doctor will prescribe medicine to prevent blood
clots from forming. Taking your medicine as directed is very important. If a
stent
was inserted, the medicine reduces the risk that blood clots will form in the
stent. Blood clots in the stent can block blood flow and cause a
heart
attack.
Recovery and Recuperation
Most people recover from angioplasty and return to
work about 1 week after being sent home. Your doctor will want to check your
progress after you leave the hospital. During the followup visit, your doctor
will examine you, make changes to your medicines if needed, do any necessary
tests, and check your overall recovery. Use this time to ask questions you may
have about activities, medicines, or lifestyle changes, or to talk about any
other issues that concern you.
Lifestyle Changes
Although angioplasty can reduce the symptoms of
coronary
artery disease (CAD), it isn't a cure for CAD or the risk factors that led
to it. Making healthy lifestyle changes can help treat CAD and maintain the
good results from angioplasty.
Talk with your doctor about your risk factors for
CAD and the lifestyle changes you'll need to make. For some people, these
changes may be the only treatment needed.
"Your
Guide to Living Well With Heart Disease," from the National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute, will give you more detailed information about making
healthy lifestyle changes.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Your doctor may want you to take part in a cardiac
rehabilitation (rehab) program. Cardiac rehab helps people with heart disease
recover faster and return to work or daily activities.
Cardiac rehab includes supervised physical activity,
education on heart healthy living, and counseling to cut down on stress and
help you return to an active life. Your doctor can tell you where to find a
cardiac rehab program near your home. "Your Guide to Living Well With Heart
Disease," will give you more information on cardiac rehab. |