Cardiac catheterization home care

Key points below

What do I need to know?

Keep the site where the catheter was put in clean and dry. Change the dressing to a Band-Aid® as soon as you get home. Change the Band-Aid at least once a day until the site has healed. Change the Band-Aid right away if it gets wet or dirty.
If urine or stool soils the site, wash the area gently with a clean cloth wet with soap and water. Then dry the skin around the site. Put on a clean Band-Aid.
The site should not be soaked in water for about 2 to 3 days or until a scab forms on the skin. Do not let your child take tub baths or swim during this time. Wait at least 5 days before swimming in a lake or in non-chlorinated water.
There may be a small bruise and some pain at the site for the first 24 hours. This is normal. The bruise may last for 7 to 10 days.

What can my child do and eat?

The doctor or nurse will tell you when your child can go back to school and normal activities. Most children will be able to do this the day after having the procedure.
Your child will not need to follow any special diet.

What follow-up is needed?

You will need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your child’s doctor.

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.

Any signs of infection such as redness or swelling around the site.
Yellow or green drainage from the site.
No appetite.
A temperature over 101oF (38.30C) by mouth or 1000F (37.8oC) rectally.
Special health care needs that were not covered by this information.