Patient education: Stenting for the heart – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is stenting for the heart? — Stenting is a procedure used to treat some people with coronary heart disease. It opens narrowed or blocked arteries in the heart (figure 1). It is done by putting a thin plastic tube into a blood vessel in the leg or arm. Then, the tube is moved up to the heart to put in the stent.

A heart stent is a tiny metal tube that is used to help hold open the blocked artery (figure 2). It is also called a "coronary stent." Most heart stents are coated with a medicine that helps keep the artery from getting narrow or blocked again.

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

For the first 24 hours after your procedure:

●Do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery.

●Do not make any important decisions or sign any important papers.

●Do not drink alcohol of any kind.

You should also:

●Take all of your medicines as instructed. After getting a stent, your doctor will prescribe aspirin and usually another medicine to help prevent clots inside the stent. If you take other medicines for your heart, make sure that you know when and how to take each of them.

●Take care of your incision:

•Keep your incision dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days after your procedure. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep your incision dry.

•Once you no longer need to keep your incision dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put your incision underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.

•After you wash your incision, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on the incision. They will also tell you if you need to cover your incision with a bandage or gauze.

•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandage.

●Increase your activity slowly:

•Start with short walks around your home, and walk a little more each day.

•Avoid heavy lifting, sports, and swimming for at least a week or 2. (Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to avoid these or other activities.)

●Eat when you are hungry – If you have an upset stomach, it might help to start with clear liquids and foods that are easy to digest, like soup, pudding, toast, or eggs. You can eat other types of foods when you feel ready. If your doctor or nurse gave you specific instructions about what to eat or avoid, follow them.

●Follow your regular doctor's instructions to keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and high blood sugar (diabetes) under control.

●Try to quit smoking, if you smoke. Your doctor or nurse can help.

●Keep a healthy weight. If you have excess body weight, try to lose weight. Your doctor or nurse can help you do this in a healthy way.

●Eat a healthy diet.

What follow-up care do I need? — The doctor will want to see you again after your procedure to check your progress. Go to these appointments.

Your doctor might also recommend a "heart rehab" program. This is an important part of your care. Share your discharge information with the rehab staff so they can plan a program to help you recover. Let your doctor know if you need help finding a program.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you think that you might be having a heart attack or a stroke.

Signs of a heart attack can include (figure 3):

●Severe chest pain, pressure, or discomfort with:

•Breathing trouble, sweating, upset stomach, or cold and clammy skin

•Pain in your arms, back, or jaw

•Worse pain with activity like walking up stairs

●Fast or irregular heartbeat

●Feeling dizzy, faint, or weak

●Chest pain that does not get better with 3 doses of nitroglycerin

Signs of a stroke can include the following:

●There is an easy way to remember the signs of a stroke. The symptoms usually start suddenly. Just think of the word "FAST." Each letter in the word stands for 1 of the things you should watch for and what to do about it:

•Face – Does the person's face look uneven or droop on 1 side?

•Arm – Does the person have weakness or numbness in 1 or both arms? Does 1 arm drift down if the person tries to hold both arms out?

•Speech – Is the person having trouble speaking? Does their speech sound strange?

•Time – If you notice any of these stroke signs, call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1). You need to act FAST. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chances of recovery.

Some experts suggest thinking of the term "BE FAST" instead. This adds 2 more symptoms to the list above:

•Balance – Is the person having trouble standing or walking?

•Eyes – Is the person having trouble with their vision?

Call your doctor for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●You have redness or swelling where the tube went into your blood vessel.

●If you have numbness or pain in the leg or arm where the tube went in during the stenting.

●You have nausea or vomiting for more than 2 days after going home.

More on this topic

Patient education: Stenting for the heart (The Basics)
Patient education: Cardiac catheterization (The Basics)
Patient education: Chest pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Medicines for angina (chest pain) (The Basics)
Patient education: Coronary artery disease (The Basics)
Patient education: Heart attack (The Basics)
Patient education: Medicines after a heart attack (The Basics)

Patient education: Stenting for the heart (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Medications for angina (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Angina treatment — medical versus interventional therapy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Heart attack (Beyond the Basics)