Warning Signs to Watch For

• After Cardiac Catheterization
• After Open-Heart Surgery
• After an Electrophysiology Procedure

Things to Watch for After Cardiac Catheterization:
After your loved one comes home from the hospital, you'll want to be sure that everything continues to go well. If you see any of the following signs or symptoms, call the physician:

• Bright red new blood on the dressing. If this occurs, have the patient lie down. Place firm pressure just above the puncture site for 15 minutes.
• If the bleeding stops, the patient should remain lying down for 4 hours. Notify the doctor of what happened.
• If the bleeding does not stop, call 911 and have the patient taken by ambulance to the ER. (The ER staff will notify the patient's doctor.)
• Chest pain (angina)
• Swelling, redness, bleeding, or draining fluids at the site of catheter insertion
• Fever
• Severe pain, coldness, or a bluish color in the arm or leg where the catheter was inserted

Things to Watch for After Open-Heart Surgery:
If you see any of the following signs or symptoms, or if your loved one complains of any of these problems, call the physician:

• Upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea or a skin rash
• Swelling, redness, or drainage at the edge of the incision
• Sudden weight gain (three pounds in a day or five pounds in a week. The patient should weigh him/herself every day.
• Chills, fever, or sweating for more than a day
• Sudden or worsening shortness of breath
• Shortness of breath while lying down
• A heartbeat that seems fast, slow, or irregular
• Pain in the chest of shoulder that gets worse when your loved one coughs or takes a deep breath
• Unexplained bruising or bleeding.

Things to Watch for After an Electrophysiology Procedure
If your loved one experiences any of the following, call the doctor:

• Bright new blood on the dressing. If this occurs, have the patient lie down. Place firm pressure just above the puncture site for 15 minutes.
• If the bleeding stops, the patient should remain lying down for 4 hours. Notify the doctor of what happened.
• If the bleeding does not stop, call 911 and have the patient taken by ambulance to the ER. (The ER staff will notify the patient's doctor.)
• Swelling, redness, or drainage at the site of catheter insertions
• Fever
• Severe pain, coldness, or a bluish color in the arm or leg where a catheter was inserted
• Sudden or worsening shortness of breath
• Dizziness, fainting or rapid heart beating