After Your Angioplasty at Home

After the Procedure at Home

Once at home, you should monitor the insertion site for bleeding, unusual pain, swelling, and abnormal discoloration or temperature change at or near the insertion site. A small bruise is normal. If you notice a constant or large amount of blood at the site that cannot be contained with a small dressing, notify your physician.

If your physician used a closure device for your insertion site, you will be given specific information regarding the type of closure device that was used and how to take care of the insertion site. There will be a small knot, or lump, under the skin, where the insertion site was.

This is normal. The knot should gradually disappear over a few weeks.

It will be important to keep the insertion site clean and dry. Your physician will give you specific bathing instructions.

You may be advised not to participate in any strenuous activities. Your physician will instruct you about when you can return to work and resume normal activities.

Notify your physician to report any of the following:

• Fever and/or chills 
• Increased pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding or other drainage from the insertion site 
• Coolness, numbness and/or tingling, or other changes in the affected extremity 
• Chest pain/pressure, nausea and/or vomiting, profuse sweating, dizziness, and/or fainting

Your physician may give you additional or alternate instructions after the procedure, depending on your particular situation.