All of the catheters will be removed when the procedure is done. Firm pressure will be applied at the catheter insertion sites for several minutes to prevent bleeding, and a dressing will be applied.

You will be disconnected from most of the monitoring equipment, but some of this equipment may remain connected until you have been transported to a recovery area or hospital room. The intravenous (IV) line in your arm is often left in place.

You will be required to lie flat and still for several hours. You should avoid lifting and bending your legs where the catheters were inserted. This will give the punctured vessels an opportunity to heal completely.

Typically a nurse follows your progress for several hours by checking your pulse, blood pressure, and the catheter insertion sites. If you notice bleeding or feel pain at these insertion sites, or if you feel your heart beating rapidly, notify the nurse immediately.

Sometimes you will be allowed to go home on the day of the procedure, but you may be required to stay in the hospital overnight. The heart may be monitored with an electrocardiogram (ECG) until you go home. You should make arrangements for someone to take you home from the hospital.

After you return home, limit your activity for several days. Avoid all vigorous physical exertion and strain (such as lifting heavy objects). In addition, carefully follow your physician's instructions regarding medications you are to take.

Leave the dressing in place until the next day or as instructed by your physician or nurse. He or she will also tell you how long to wait to bathe after returning home.

It is not unusual to have a bruise or small lump where the catheters were inserted. This usually disappears in a week or two. It is unusual for the sites to become warm to the touch, tender, painful, or for any swelling to increase after you return home. It would also be unusual for you to develop a fever or experience a recurrence of your rapid heart rhythm, chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. If any of these occur, contact your physician immediately.