Your child has had a heart, or cardiac, catheterization . This is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is passed into the heart and its surrounding blood vessels. The information on this page explains how to care for your child at home after the procedure, and when to call for help.
You will need to care for the catheterization site for 5 days
The catheterization site is the place where the cardiologist put the catheter into your child's vein or artery. It is usually in the area at the top of your child's leg. This area is also called the groin. Sometimes the site is in the neck.
This site must be kept clean and dry to help it heal. It must be covered by a bandage for 5 days after the catheterization. You need to change the bandage at least once a day for each of those 5 days. You should also change the bandage whenever it gets dirty. This happens more often with babies who are still in diapers.
Each time you change the bandage, look at the site to make sure it is healing well. On the first day, the old bandage will often have a spot of blood on it. The site should not be red or swollen.
Your child's medications
The nurse will explain when your child can go back to taking their regular medications and if there are any changes. If you have not received information about your child's medications, please ask your child's nurse.
Sponge baths or showers only
Your child should not have a bath or go swimming for 5 days after the catheterization. If the site is soaked in water, it is more likely to get infected. You can give your child sponge baths or showers instead.
Your child can eat normally
After your child goes home from the hospital, they should be able to eat normally. Your child may have an upset stomach for the first day (24 hours) after the procedure. This is more likely to happen if your child had a general anesthetic. If you are concerned about your child's upset stomach, call your child's primary care provider.
Your child should not be too active for the first 5 days
After your child goes home from the hospital, they can do quiet activities. For about the first 5 days, your child should not be too active. For example, your child should not take long walks, ride a bicycle or play contact sports. These activities may cause bleeding at the catheterization site.
Your child's cardiologist may tell your child not to do certain activities. If you have any questions about what your child should and should not do, please call the cardiology clinic.
When to call the doctor
Some children have bruising in the area around the site. A little bruising is normal, as long as the bruising gets better over time. You can tell that the bruising is going away if it is getting lighter in colour. If you notice any swelling or redness, the bruising gets bigger or if your child has a fever, call the cardiology clinic.
Your child may complain of a sore groin or leg on the side of the catheterization. Soreness for one or two days is normal and you can give acetaminophen to help. But if your child is sore for more than a couple of days, contact the cardiology clinic (for SickKids patients, call the number listed in the section below).
When to go to the emergency department
If the site starts to bleed, press firmly with a piece of clean gauze over the site for at least fifteen minutes.
If the bleeding does not stop after fifteen minutes:
- Keep applying pressure and
- Go to the nearest emergency department
If you notice your child's leg is swollen, pale in colour or cold to the touch:
- Call the cardiology fellow on call
At SickKids
If your child is a SickKids patient, you can contact the Cardiology Clinic at (416) 813-5848, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., if you have questions about your child’s activities or if you notice any swelling, redness, or if your child has a fever.
You can also contact the Cardiac Diagnostic & Interventional Unit (CDIU) at the following:- From 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.: call the Clinical Support Nurse (CSN)at (416) 813-6785
- Outside of clinic hours: call the SickKids Locating/Switchboard and ask for the Cardiology Fellow at (416) 813-7500