Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Femoral Site Care
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?
After the procedure, it is common to have bruising and tenderness at the incision site. This usually fades within 1–2 weeks.
Follow these instructions at home:
Incision site care
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Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your incision site. 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 or remove 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.
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You may shower 24–48 hours after the procedure or as told by your health care provider.
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Gently wash the incision site with plain soap and water.
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Pat the area dry with a clean towel.
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Do not rub the site. This may cause bleeding.
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Do not apply powder or lotion to the site. Keep the site clean and dry.
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Check your femoral site 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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Activity
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If you were given a sedative during the procedure, it can affect you for several hours. Do not drive or operate machinery until your health care provider says that it is safe.
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Rest as told by your health care provider.
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Avoid sitting for a long time without moving. Get up to take short walks every 1–2 hours. This is important to improve blood flow and breathing. Ask for help if you feel weak or unsteady.
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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 and when you can return to work.
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Avoid activities that take a lot of effort for the first 2–3 days after your procedure, or as long as directed.
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Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that you are told, until your health care provider says that it is safe.
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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If you will be going home right after the procedure, plan to have a responsible adult care for you for the time you are told. This is important.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
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You have a fever or chills.
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You have any of these signs of infection at your incision site:
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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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Get help right away if:
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The incision area swells very fast.
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The incision area is bleeding, and the bleeding does not stop when you hold steady pressure on the area.
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Your leg or foot becomes pale, cool, tingly, or numb.
These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Summary
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After the procedure, it is common to have bruising and tenderness that fade within 1–2 weeks.
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Check your femoral site every day for signs of infection.
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Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that you are told, until your health care provider says that it is safe.
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Get help right away if the incision area swells very fast, you have bleeding at the incision area that does not stop, or your leg or foot becomes pale, cool, or numb.
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.
