A stent is a small, expandable mesh tube placed inside a narrowed or blocked artery to keep it open and restore blood flow. This procedure improves symptoms and reduces future cardiac event risk. Understanding the recovery process helps patients navigate the period after placement.
Your Hospital Stay and Initial Recovery
After stent placement, patients remain in the hospital, often overnight, for observation. Staff monitor heart rhythm, blood pressure, and the catheter insertion site. Patients lie flat for several hours post-procedure to prevent bleeding.
Mild discomfort, bruising, or a small lump at the insertion site is common. Nurses provide care instructions for the access site, including keeping it clean and dry. Before discharge, patients receive specific instructions on activity limitations and medication schedules, returning home within 24 to 48 hours.
Medications and Activity Guidelines
Adhering to prescribed medications after stent placement prevents complications. Antiplatelet medications, such as aspirin and a second drug like clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor, are prescribed. These prevent blood clots on the stent surface. Dual antiplatelet therapy duration varies, depending on patient factors and stent type.
Patients may also receive statins for cholesterol and medications for blood pressure or diabetes. Initial activity restrictions allow healing. For the first few days or weeks, avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise. Doctors provide guidelines on safely resuming normal activities, recommending a progressive increase over several weeks.
Lifestyle Changes for Long-Term Health
Adopting lifestyle modifications maintains heart health and supports stent effectiveness. A heart-healthy diet, low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium, is beneficial. Incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins helps manage cholesterol and blood pressure.
Regular physical activity, once cleared, is a daily component. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, such as brisk walking, to improve cardiovascular fitness. Quitting smoking is crucial, as it damages blood vessels and promotes plaque buildup, negating stent benefits. Managing stress through relaxation techniques and maintaining a healthy body weight also improves cardiovascular outcomes. Managing chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure further supports heart health.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Knowing when to seek medical attention is crucial. New or worsening chest pain, especially if severe, radiating to the arm, jaw, or back, or accompanied by shortness of breath, requires immediate evaluation. Call emergency services if these symptoms occur.
Signs of infection at the catheter insertion site, such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or persistent fever, warrant a doctor’s call. Significant bleeding from the access site that does not stop with direct pressure, or signs of a stroke like sudden weakness or numbness on one side, difficulty speaking, or sudden vision changes, also require immediate emergency attention. Prompt action can improve outcomes.