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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Discharge Instructions
After your percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the following provides helpful information to assist in your recovery.

Activities
While the groin is healing, bleeding or swelling can occur as a result of stress or strain to the groin and abdominal muscles. Carefully follow these guidelines:

• On the day of discharge, limit your activities
  
• No driving for 24 hours
  
• You may shower after 24 hours, but no tub baths for one week
  
• Climb stairs with a slow, steady pace until two days after the procedure
  
• Do not lift more than 10 pounds for the next three days

For the first two weeks after your procedure, avoid any physical activity that would raise your heart rate above 110 beats per minute (i.e. tennis, jogging, or weight lifting).

Medications
After this procedure, your doctor will prescribe "blood thinning" medicine to help prevent blood clots. This medication should be taken with food. The medications will include:

• Aspirin (ASA): (for all angioplasty and stent placement patients). Take 325mg of soluble ASA (non-enteric coated) once each day. After one month, you may switch to a 325mg enteric-coated ASA. Continue taking ASA as instructed by your doctor. This may be for several months or years. Do not stop taking ASA without talking first talking to your cardiologist.
  

• Plavix®: (for all stent placement patients). Take 75mg of Plavix® once each day as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking Plavix® without first talking with your cardiologist.
  

Take all other medicines as directed. Do not take any extra aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines (such as Motrin®, ibuprofen, Aleve®, and others). They can increase your risk of bleeding. Many over-the-counter drugs contain aspirin. If you are unsure about what the drug contains, check with your pharmacist or doctor before taking. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) may be used for minor pain or fever. Do not exceed 4000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours.

Special Instructions for Stent Patients

• Carry your stent card with you at all times. This provides useful information about your heart disease to any doctor who may be caring for you.

• Tell all health care providers that you are taking ASA and Plavix®

• If you are having any dental work or minor surgery during the first six weeks after having your stent placed, you need to take antibiotics. Talk with your doctor.

Contact
Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
(866) 662-8467

Cardiac Catheterization Department
(312) 926-5135

Review Date: 04/07