Radial Site Care Instructions

Here is the information about 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 catheter insertion area.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.

Insertion site care

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your insertion site. Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
  • 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.
• Check your insertion site every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid or blood.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
  • Warmth.
• Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves.
• You may shower 24–48 hours after the procedure, or as directed by your health care provider.
  • Remove the dressing and gently wash the site with plain soap and water.
  • Pat the area dry with a clean towel.
  • Do not rub the site. That could cause bleeding.
• Do not apply powder or lotion to the site.

Activity

• For 24 hours after the procedure, or as directed by your health care provider:
  • Do not flex or bend the affected arm.
  • Do not push or pull heavy objects with the affected arm.
  • Do not drive yourself home from the hospital or clinic. You may drive 24 hours after the procedure unless your health care provider tells you not to.
  • Do not operate machinery or power tools.
• 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.
• Ask your health care provider when it is okay to:
  • Return to work or school.
  • Resume usual physical activities or sports.
  • Resume sexual activity.

General instructions

• If the catheter site starts to bleed, raise your arm and put firm pressure on the site. If the bleeding does not stop, get help right away. This is a medical emergency.
• If you went home on 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 told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have a fever.
• You have redness, swelling, or yellow drainage around your insertion site.

Get help right away if:

• You have unusual pain at the radial site.
• The catheter insertion area swells very fast.
• The insertion area is bleeding, and the bleeding does not stop when you hold steady pressure on the area.
• Your arm or hand 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

• After the procedure, it is common to have bruising and tenderness at the site.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your radial site wound. Check the wound every day for signs of infection.
• 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.