What is Femoral Site Care
These instructions provide you with information about caring for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions.
Your treatment has been planned according to current medical practices, but problems sometimes occur. Call your health care provider if you have any problems or questions after your procedure.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After your procedure, it is typical to have the following:
- Bruising at the site that usually fades within 1–2 weeks.
- Blood collecting in the tissue (hematoma) that may be painful to the touch. It should usually decrease in size and tenderness within 1–2 weeks.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
- You may shower 24–48 hours after the procedure or as directed by your health care provider. Remove the bandage (dressing) and gently wash the site with plain soap and water. Pat the area dry with a clean towel. Do notrub the site, because this may cause bleeding.
- Do nottake baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves.
- Check your insertion site every day for redness, swelling, or drainage.
- Do notapply powder or lotion to the site.
- Limit use of stairs to twice a day for the first 2–3 days or as directed by your health care provider.
- Do notsquat for the first 2–3 days or as directed by your health care provider.
- Do notlift over 10 lb (4.5 kg) for 5 days after your procedure or as directed by your health care provider.
- Ask your health care provider
when it is okay to:
- Return to work or school.
- Resume usual physical activities or sports.
- Resume sexual activity.
- Do notdrive home if you are discharged the same day as the procedure. Have someone else drive you.
- You may drive 24 hours after the procedure unless otherwise instructed by your health care provider.
- Do notoperate machinery or power tools for 24 hours after the procedure or as directed by your health care provider.
- If your procedure was done as an outpatient procedure, which means that you went home the same day as your procedure, a responsible adult should be with you for the first 24 hours after you arrive home.
- Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have a fever.
- You have chills.
- You have increased bleeding from the site. Hold pressure on the site.
Get help right away if:
- You have unusual pain at the site.
- You have redness, warmth, or swelling at the site.
- You have drainage (other than a small amount of blood on the dressing) from the site.
- The site is bleeding, and the bleeding does not stop after 30 minutes of holding steady pressure on the site.
- Your leg or foot becomes pale, cool, tingly, or numb.
