Going home after your daycase angiogram/angioplasty
Looking after your arm
At the commencement of your procedure, you were given medication to thin your blood, called Heparin. This lasts in your system for a few hours. Because of this, you should not overly exert yourself immediately after your procedure.
Do not lift heavy objects with the hand that was used to place the catheters through. You are advised to rest for 24–48 hours.
Before you leave the hospital a nurse will place a small pressure dressing on your wrist. This may be removed before you go to bed. Please leave in place the transparent dressing, if possible. The transparent dressing can stay in place for up to 2 days, after which, you may leave it exposed, or cover with a plaster, if you wish.
When cleaning the puncture site, it is best not to rub with vigour or excessive pressure for the first week, as this may cause bruising or swelling at the puncture site.
A small amount of bruising at the puncture site is normal. If there is any swelling or bleeding, we advise that you immediately put direct, firm pressure to the area of swelling/bleeding for 15 minutes, if the bleeding/swelling does not stop go to your local hospital accident & emergency department, with your procedure report.
You should experience some numbness in your wrist and thumb due to the local anaesthetic injected. This should wear off over the course of a few hours.
If any part of your arm or hand becomes numb that wasn’t there during the procedure, please seek advice. If there is any swelling further up in your arm, please go to your local accident & emergency department.
If you notice any redness or inflammation around the puncture site that increases in size after your procedure date, this may indicate an infective process. Please seek advice from your GP.
If you experience any chest pain or shortness of breath, or any symptoms that first brought you to see a cardiac specialist, please go to the accident and emergency department at your nearest hospital. Call an ambulance if necessary.
Looking after your leg
The doctor may have used your femoral artery to access your heart. This means that they will have made a puncture in your groin.
A sealing device may have been used to close the puncture, or manual pressure applied for 10 minutes or more.
Please follow the above guide for care of the groin puncture, as the same principles apply.
Other important information
Drinking
You are advised to drink plenty of fluids following your procedure as the contrast dye used can affect your kidneys and will need to be flushed out of your system. You are advised not to take alcohol for 24 hours post procedure.
Driving
It is recommended that you do not drive for 2 days post angiogram and 7 days post angioplasty. You may not drive until you have permission from the DVLA, if you are seeking treatment related to your heart and drive professionally.
- Driver health information
- General driver information
- Call 0300 790 6806 for car or motorcycle driving licence holders
- 0300 790 6807 for bus, coach or lorry driving licence holders
Flying
For uncomplicated angioplasty, it is generally best not to travel for at least 3 days after the procedure. Please discuss this with your consultant before you leave the hospital. If you have had angioplasty, please do not be concerned that the stents will set off the metal detectors. However, it is recommended that you take a copy of your procedure report with you, in case anything should happen whilst you are away from home.
Work
After angioplasty, you should be able to return to work after a week.
Medication
You should take a blood thinning medications for up to 1 year after having an angioplasty.
This is usually a combination of low dose-aspirin and one of the following medications:
- Clopidogrel
- Prasugrel
- Ticagrelor
It is vital that you follow your medication schedule. If you stop your medication early, it will greatly increase your risk of having a heart attack caused by the treated artery becoming blocked.
The course of Clopidogrel, Prasugrel or Ticagrelor will usually be stopped after about a year, but you will need to continue taking low-dose aspirin for the rest of your life unless the doctor tells you not to.
You will also take a cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Statins.
Lifestyle changes
It is very important to take steps to reduce your risk of having further problems in the future. This may include:
- Lose weight if you’re overweight
- Smoking cessation
- Eating a healthy diet
- Being active and exercise regularly
- Cutting down on alcohol
Follow-up appointment
If you had an angioplasty, you will have a follow-up appointment sent to your home address. If we have only performed a diagnostic procedure, then a follow up appointment is not usually made unless it is necessary. Other appointments still stand, though.
If you have any concerns, please contact:
- Cardiac Day Unit: 020 8321 2618, Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:30pm
- Syon 1: 020 8321 6945 outside of the above hours