Cardiac Catheterization Caring for Your Child at Home
- Your child may take a shower or sponge bath the next day.
- No baths, swimming, or hot tubs (sitting in water) for 4 days.
- Gently clean the site with soap and water, pat dry, and put on a new Band-Aid®.
- Keep a Band-Aid® over the site for 3 days. Change the Band-Aid® every day. For children in diapers, change the Band-Aid® with each diaper change.
- Your child may have some discomfort at the catheterization site. You may give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen.
- There may be some bruising at the site. This should get better each day.
Activity
- Your child should have very little activity for the rest of the day. Your child may take short walks in the home and slowly climb stairs. Quiet play only for 3 days.
- Your child may return to school ______ days after the catheterization. No Physical Education classes for one week.
- NO vigorous activities such as bike riding, climbing, competitive sports, or heavy lifting (more than 10 pounds) for one week.
When to Call Pediatric Cardiology
Call if your child has:
- Bleeding from the site. If bleeding occurs, hold pressure over the site for 10 minutes. If oozing does not stop, call one of the numbers below.
- Any change in color, temperature, or swelling of the arm or leg where the catheterization was done.
- Severe pain, numbness, or tingling of the arm or leg where the catheterization was done.
- A temperature greater than 100° F or 38° C.
- Swelling at the site.
- Redness or drainage at the site.
Medicines
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Follow-up appointment ____________________________________________
Phone Numbers
Pediatric Cardiology, Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 4 pm (608) 263-6420
After hours, nights, weekends, holidays, this number will give you the paging operator. Ask for the pediatric cardiologist on call. Give the operator your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
If you live out of the area, please call 1-800-824-8924 and ask for the pediatric cardiology clinic.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 02/14/2013
Copyright © 07/16/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#5945
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