What To Expect After Coronary Angiography

After coronary angiography, you'll be moved to a special care area, where you'll rest and be checked for several hours or overnight. During this time, you'll need to limit your movement to avoid bleeding from the site where the catheter was inserted.

While you recover in the special care area, nurses will check your heart rate and blood pressure regularly and see whether you're bleeding from the tube insertion site.

A small bruise may develop on your arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck at the site where the catheter was inserted. That area may feel sore or tender for about a week. Let your doctor know if you develop problems such as:

• A constant or large amount of blood at the catheter insertion site that can't be stopped with a small bandage
• Unusual pain, swelling, redness, or other signs of infection at or near the catheter insertion site

Talk to your doctor about whether you should avoid certain activities, such as heavy lifting, for a short time after the test.