It generally takes most people a couple of weeks to start returning to their normal activities after angioplasty/stenting. Before you leave hospital, you'll be given detailed instructions for exercise, medications, follow-up appointments, ongoing wound care and resuming normal activities.
In most cases, you'll be advised to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities for about a week, or until the wound has healed.
The procedure may take place right after the arteriogram, which is used to find the blockage, or it may occur the next day. You may need to stay in the hospital two or three days.
Walking short distances on a flat surface is OK. Limit going up and down stairs to around 2 times a day for the first 2 to 3 days. Don't do yard work, drive, squat, carry heavy objects, or play sports for at least 2 days, or until your health care provider tells you it is safe.
One can go back to their normal routine within 2 to 3 days after undergoing the procedure, depending on the doctors' recommendations. However, patients who undergo this procedure must ensure they follow the above-mentioned lifestyle changes to lead a long and healthy life after stent placement.
“Most of the time after a heart attack, people actually do quite well and live fuller lives afterward.” In fact, if the blockage that caused your heart attack is cleared with stents or surgery, you might feel better and have more energy than you did before your heart attack.
Preparing for the stenting procedure
You will be asleep for most stent procedures, so plan to have someone else take you home. You may go home the same day or after a few days, depending on the type of stent and your other medical conditions.
Stenting is a minimally invasive procedure, meaning it is not considered major surgery. Stents can be made of metal mesh, fabric, silicone, or combinations of materials. Stents used for coronary arteries are made of metal mesh. Fabric stents, also called stent grafts, are used in larger arteries such as the aorta.
Once the cardiologist is happy that it is in the right position, the balloon is inflated, widening the narrowed part of the artery and expanding the stent to fit the artery wall. Then the catheter, balloon and wire are removed, leaving the stent in place. The procedure usually takes 30–60 minutes.
You might feel pressure in the area where the catheter is inserted. You may also feel some mild discomfort when the balloon is inflated and your artery is stretched, but typically you shouldn't feel any sharp pain during the procedure.
Stents can cause discomfort or pain, commonly in the bladder and kidney (loin) area, but sometimes in other areas such as the groin, urethra and genitals. The discomfort or pain may be more noticeable after physical activities and after passing urine.
You will need to take antiplatelet medicines, or blood thinners, to prevent blood clots from forming in the stents in your arteries. Your provider may prescribe these medicines for 1 year or more after getting a coronary stent. For carotid or peripheral artery stents, it may be 1 month or more.
Your doctor will recommend sleeping on your back, which allows your head, neck, and spine to be aligned properly, thereby reducing the pressure of the chest and heart. However, if it becomes a little difficult to get in or out of the bed, make sure that you have enough support (pillows) for an easier transition.
It's common to have bleeding or bruising under the skin where the catheter was inserted. More serious complications are less common but can include: damage to the artery where the sheath was inserted. allergic reaction to the contrast agent used during the procedure.
Coronary arteries with severe blockages, up to 99%, can often be treated with traditional stenting procedure. Once an artery becomes 100% blocked, it is considered a coronary chronic total occlusion, or CTO. Specialized equipment, techniques and physician training are required to open the artery with a stent.
While the research is clear that stents save lives if inserted during a heart attack, “for most patients with stable heart disease, there's no good evidence that it can save their life or improve their symptoms any more than medication and lifestyle changes,” says Frederick Welt, M.D., chair of the American College of ...
Just after the procedure
Once your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing are stable and you are alert, you may be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) or a regular hospital room. If the sheath was left in the insertion site, it will be taken out of the groin or arm at the right time.
Usually, patients stay overnight and return home the day after the procedure. Some may even go home the same day. The amount of time that you stay in the hospital will depend on if there were any difficulties during the procedure and how well the catheter insertion site is healing.
Rule No 4: Moderate exercise after stenting procedure: No patient needs bed rest following stent implantation. It is advisable for patients to commence moderate exercise such as walking on the plain ground soon after angioplasty and gradually increase the intensity of exercise.
Dairy - preferably low fat. Healthy fats - a small amount of healthy fats and oils from nuts, seeds, avocado and oily fish. Water - avoid sugary soft drinks and drink alcohol only in moderation.
You shouldn't drive for at least a week after having an angioplasty and stent - longer if you also had a heart attack. Check with your doctor to see how soon you can drive after having a heart attack and stent. You may need to wait up to four weeks.
Foods to avoid, or keep to a minimum:
Pithy fruit e.g. oranges, nectarines, grapefruit, pineapple. Dried fruit, nuts, and seeds, popcorn. Fish with bones e.g. anchovies, tinned sardines. Tough or gristly meat.