Coronary angioplasty is one of the most common procedures in the management of blocked coronary arteries and involves insertion of a catheter through a blood vessel in either your groin or your arm. The procedure helps treat coronary blockages by placing a stent (tiny-wire mesh tube) inside the artery. However, there is a lack of awareness about post-procedure practices. So take a look at what you can expect for coronary angioplasty recovery, including how long until you can get back to your normal routine:
Post Operation- If it is
a planned coronary angioplasty (in case just to relieve symptoms of clogged
arteries), you'll probably be discharged from the hospital the same day or the
following day. The length of your stay in the hospital will depend on the
reason for your angioplasty. For example, if it is an emergency angioplasty for
a heart attack, you’ll have to spend a few days in the hospital before
returning home.
Before leaving the hospital,
make sure to note any medication you need to take, changes you need to make to
your lifestyle and diet, wound care advice, and your follow-up appointment with
the doctor. You might as well experience tiredness in the initial few days
after the procedure, which is completely normal and will pass in a week’s time.
Wound Care- Follow
specific instructions given by your healthcare team on how to take care of your
wound at home. You may have a bruise in the area where the catheter was
inserted, so keep an eye on it for the next few days to make sure it is healing
well. Though you can shower and wash your incision, but do not rub it which
might disrupt its healing. After you’re done, pat it clean and cover it with
bandage.
The area around your incision
might look discolored, and may as well look and feel swollen. Some warning
signs to look out for include redness, pus, fever, and increasing pain or swelling.
Some other symptoms that you should notify your doctor include numbness, or
changes in temperature, such as feeling hot or cool to the touch, in the arm or
leg. If your incision starts to bleed, inform your doctor right away.
Fluids- You must consume extra
fluids in the 24 hours after the procedure, which usually is 8-10 glasses of
water, which will
help flush out the contrast dye your doctor used during the procedure.
Post Discharge- Once you
leave the hospital, your post-procedure care will involve taking the prescribed
medications and making some important lifestyle changes, including quitting
smoking, eating heart-smart foods (it’s best to switch to a plant-based diet),
etc.
Other important things of
consideration are
·
Avoid
driving
·
Go through
a cardiac rehab program, and
·
only
indulge in light activities for the first week after the procedure (heavy
lifting is a big NO) and take adequate rest.
How fast you’ll recover largely
depends on the reason for angioplasty and where your doctor inserted the
catheter. You can most probably expect to get back to your routine activities,
and return to work in 2 to 3 days, though it might take a week or longer to return to strenuous activities,
including sports, vigorous exercise, etc. Your doctor will give you complete insight
into the things you can and cannot do. Call your doctor right away if you start
to experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or weakness during activity. Do
not miss at any cost follow-up appointments with your angioplasty doctor after you have
recovered for future care.
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