Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Cardiac Biopsy, Care After
The following information offers guidance on how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.
What can I expect after the procedure?
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Tenderness or swelling around the incision site.
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A small bruise or lump at the incision site.
Follow these instructions at home:
Incision care
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Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your incision. Make sure you:
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Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
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Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
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Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
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Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you may take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths.
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Check your incision area every day for signs of infection. Check for:
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Redness, swelling, or pain.
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Fluid or blood.
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Warmth.
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Pus or a bad smell.
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General instructions
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Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
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Return to your normal diet.
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Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
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You have any bleeding from your incision site.
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You have a fever or chills.
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You have any of signs of infection at your incision site.
Get help right away if:
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You have chest pain.
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You have difficulty breathing.
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You feel like your heart is beating fast or irregularly (palpitations).
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Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away.
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Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Summary
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After the procedure, it is common to have some tenderness, swelling, or a small bruise at the incision site.
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Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
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Check your incision site every day for signs of infection.
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Get help right away if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, or an irregular heart beat.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
