Care after Cardiac Cath - Wrist Site

Care after Cardiac Cath - Wrist Site

 

What to expect

  • For up to 5 days after your procedure, your wrist site may be sore, tender and have some bruising.
  • You may have a small lump at the site that should not get larger. It should go away after 7 to 10 days.
  • You may have a small amount of oozing from the site for 48 hours after the procedure if a scab comes off.

 

Food and drink

  • You can return to your usual diet.
  • Drink 6 to 8 cups of water each of the next 2 days to help flush the contrast medicine or dye from your body after the procedure, unless directed by your doctor to limit fluids.

 

Care of your wrist site

  • You may shower 24 hours after your procedure and remove the bandage over your wrist site.
  • Gently clean the site each day with soap and water and then pat dry. Do NOT scrub the site.
  • Do NOT soak your wrist site in water for 3 days after the procedure or until site is fully healed. This means no soaking in the sink, bath tub, hot tub, swimming pool or other water where your wrist site would be under water.
  • Do NOT put any lotions, powders or ointments on the site for 7 days or until the site is fully healed.
  • After you remove the bandage, you can cover the site with a bandaid for the next day or two if your clothes rub the site. Otherwise, leave the site uncovered.
  • Check the site each day for any change in redness, swelling, bruising and drainage.

 

Activity limits

  • Do NOT lift, push, or pull more than 5pounds for 7 days or until the site is healed. A gallon of milk weighs just over 8 pounds.
  • Limit twisting and bending the wrist site for 3 days.
  • No driving for 24 hours after the procedure unless directed by your doctor.

 

Call your doctor if you have:

  • More redness, swelling, bruising, pain or drainage at the wrist site.
  • White or yellow drainage with an odor from the wrist site.

Weekdays between 8 AM and 5 PM call:

  • Ross Cardiac Cath lab at 614-293-8385
  • East Hospital Cath lab at 614-257-3571

After 5 PM, on weekends, or if you are not able to reach your doctor, call the Ohio State operator at 614-293-8000 and ask for the Cardiology attending doctor on call.

 

Call 911 or get emergency care if you have:

  • Wrist site bleeding that does not stop after applying direct pressure for 15 minutes.
  • Chest pain, shortness of breath or any unusual symptoms including chills, fever, nausea or vomiting.

 

© 2014 – July 30, 2019, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or healthcare team if you have any questions about your care. For more health information, call the Library for Health Information at 614-293-3707 or email: health-info@osu.edu.