para>This is an image of a man and the major blood vessels used for a cardiac catheterization. The image shows the groin site being used for the catheter entry with the catheter threading up into the heart. There is also a callout showing an arm site being used for the catheter insertion and the catheter threading up to the heart.View Original
This is an image of a man and the major blood vessels used for a cardiac catheterization. The image shows the groin site being used for the catheter entry with the catheter threading up into the heart. There is also a callout showing an arm site being used for the catheter insertion and the catheter threading up to the heart.
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This is a series of images showing how to care for your wound. They include washing your hands, having the doctor take out your stitches or staples, not removing the small pieces of tape over the wound, taking care of your dressing, and watching for signs of infection like pus or redness around the wound.
View Original
This is a series of images showing how to care for your wound. They include washing your hands, having the doctor take out your stitches or staples, not removing the small pieces of tape over the wound, taking care of your dressing, and watching for signs of infection like pus or redness around the wound.
View Original
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take your drugs as directed by your doctor.
- Do light activities like walking.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Control your heartbeat
Will physical activity be limited?
Your activity may be limited for a few days. Talk with your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding or blood clots
- Infection
- Problem with your heart like injury to blood vessels or the blood vessels become narrow, hole in the heart, fluid around the heart, or heart attack
- Need for emergency heart surgery
- Continue to have irregular heart beat
- Nerve damage
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
To help keep your heart healthy: ‚
- Eat a healthy diet.
- If you are too heavy, lose weight.
- Eat less salt. This can help lower blood pressure.
- Stay active.
- If you smoke or use tobacco, stop.
- Avoid drinking beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) and drinks with caffeine.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Feeling dizzy, faint, or very tired. Very slow or quick pulse rate. Problem taking your drugs for the heart.
- Arm or leg where the catheter was put in changes color, is cool to touch, or is numb
- Bleeding at the catheter site that does not stop, even with pressure
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you learned. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have shortness of breath, chest pain, or feel dizzy or faint.
Where can I learn more?
American Heart Association ‚
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/PreventionTreatmentofArrhythmia/Ablation-for-Arrhythmias_UCM_301991_Article.jsp ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ablation/ ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-07-21 ‚
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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚