Caring for Your Procedure Site (MUMH)

When you get home, it’s very important that you care for the site where the doctor inserted the catheter. There are some guidelines you should follow and some changes to look out for.

You may shower 24 hours after your procedure. Remove the bandage and gently wash the site with plain soap and water. Don’t put any lotion or powder on it. Once dry, you should put a clean bandage back on your puncture. If you are thinking about using an antibiotic ointment or cream, check with your doctor first to make sure that’s OK.

You will need to take it easy to make sure your procedure site doesn’t bleed, which means different things depending on where the doctor inserted the catheter.

If the doctor put the catheter into a site on your arm, you’ll need to be careful with that arm. Don’t push or pull any heavy objects for five to seven days. Also, don’t lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for at least two days.

If the doctor put the catheter into a site in your groin, you should try to only walk short distances on flat surfaces. This includes limiting your use of the stairs.

Taking it easy also means avoiding strenuous physical activity for at least two days.

Finally, regardless of whether the doctor put the catheter in your arm or your groin, you will need to look closely at the site at least twice daily to make sure it’s healing well. If it starts to bleed and you can’t make it stop after 10 minutes, you should call 911 immediately.