Once the procedures are completed, the patient will be transferred to a cardiac recovery room. The individual may feel groggy from the sedative. The catheter insertion site may be bruised and sore.

If the groin area was used as the point of catheter insertion, the patient will be instructed to lie in bed with the legs out straight. The physician may choose to use one of two techniques for removing the sheath that was placed at the initiation of the procedure. The traditional technique is to wait until the effects of the anticoagulant have passed (four to six hours) and then apply pressure while removing the sheath. A newly developed technique allows the sheath to be removed immediately after the procedure through the use of hemostatic devices that seal or stitch the femoral artery.

If the wrist or arm was used as the point of catheter insertion, the patient does not need to stay in bed. Throughout the post-procedure monitoring, the point of catheter entrance will be checked for bleeding, swelling or inflammation. Vital signs will be continuously monitored. It is highly recommended that patients drink fluids during this rest period. Usually, the patient will stay overnight for further observation.

Patients are typically discharged after 24 hours. They usually leave with instructions from their physician regarding:

Generally, relaxation is the key to post-procedural recovery. Gradually returning to normal activities, beginning with the least stressful and working toward a routine daily schedule, speeds healing and reduces the risk of complications.