A catheter was inserted into an artery, and then it was carefully guided up to your heart. The catheter was inserted through an artery in your groin or your arm. Once it reached your heart, the catheter was placed into 2 different arteries that deliver blood to your heart. Then contrast dye was injected. The dye allowed your doctor to see any areas in your coronary arteries that were blocked.
If you had a blockage, you may have had angioplasty and a stent placed in your heart during the procedure.
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You may feel pain in your groin or arm where the catheter was placed. You may also have some bruising around and below the incision that was made to insert the catheter.
In general, people who have angioplasty can walk around within 6 hours after the procedure. Complete recovery takes a week or less. Keep the area where the catheter was inserted dry for 24 - 48 hours. If your arm was used, recovery is usually faster.
If the doctor put the catheter in through your groin:
If the doctor put the catheter in your arm:
For a catheter in your groin or arm:
You will need to take care of your incision.
Many people take aspirin or another medicine called clopidogrel (Plavix) after this procedure. These medicines are blood thinners, and they keep your blood from forming clots in your arteries and stent. A blood clot can lead to a heart attack. Take the medicines exactly as your doctor tells you. Do not stop taking them without talking with your doctor first.
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You should eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise, and follow a healthy lifestyle. Your doctor can refer you to other health care providers who can help you learn about exercise and healthy foods that will fit into your lifestyle.
Call your doctor if:
Catheterization - cardiac - discharge; Heart catheterization - discharge
Davidson CJ, Bonow RO. Cardiac catheterization. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 19.
Updated by: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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