1. If femoral artery (groin) was your access site: 

  • You may remove your hospital dressing when you arrive home. Cover the site with a new Band-Aid® every day. 
  • When you come back, you may take a shower or wash the site with soap and water, but do not bathe or soak in water until the puncture site is healed entirely, usually three days after the procedure.
  • To prevent reopening the access site, you should wait two weeks to lift items weighing more than 10 pounds.
  • If you notice a small lump at the insertion site of the catheter, you should not be concerned. This is normal, particularly if the artery was placed with a closure device. It generally takes four to six weeks to resolve. 
  • You can expect bruising, sore, and/or discoloration at the catheter insertion site, and the discoloration may reach over your internal thigh. This, too, is normal and will take four to six weeks to resolve. 
  • If bleeding should happen after hospital discharge: 
  • Lie down on your back and apply pressure to the site using your fingers for 10 minutes.               
  • If the bleeding stops, keep your legs straight for two hours and continue to lie silently. Notify your care team as soon as possible. 
  • If after 10 minutes of pressure the bleeding does not stop, or if a large quantity of bleeding occurs, call 911. Don't drive to the hospital.

2. If Radial Artery (Wrist) was your access site: 

  • You may remove your hospital dressing when you arrive home . Cover the site with a new Band-Aid® every day. 
  • When you come back, you may take a shower or wash the site with soap and water, but do not bathe or soak in water until the puncture site is healed entirely, usually three days after the procedure.
  • At the puncture site on you hand, you can expect slight tingling and tenderness for up to three days. If this continues or develops other symptoms, notify your doctor. 
  • After the procedure, for 48 hours:
  • Avoid excessive wrist movement (extension / flexion). 
  • Do not use the affected arm to perform vigorous exercise (e.g., tennis, golf).  
  • Do not use a lawn mower, chainsaw, motorbike, or all-terrain vehicle.
  •  Do not use the affected arm to lift anything heavier than three to five pounds for seven days. 
  •  If bleeding should happen after hospital discharge: 
    • Sit down and apply pressure to the site using your fingers for 10 minutes.               
    • If the bleeding stops, keep your wrist straight for two hours and continue to sit silently. Notify your care team as soon as possible. 
    • If after 10 minutes of pressure the bleeding does not stop, or if a large quantity of bleeding occurs, call 911. Don't drive to the hospital.