AFTER YOUR PROCEDURE

Recovery Depends on the Access or Incision Site

How long you rest before walking — and how the site is cared for — depends on how we reached the problem.

Arterial access (puncture)

Wrist (radial artery): about 90 minutes of bed rest with a small compression band; you can sit up right away and progress to walking before discharge; you may leave with a small compression wrap.
Groin (common femoral artery): about 2 to 3 hours of bed rest lying flat while the site seals; you lie flat, then progress to sitting and walking before discharge.
Foot or lower leg (tibial or pedal artery): about 30 to 60 minutes of bed rest with a small compression band; you can sit up right away and progress to walking before discharge; you may leave with a small compression wrap. Tibial access is often preferred for its lower complication rate and faster recovery.

Groin (common femoral vein): about 60 to 90 minutes of bed rest lying flat while the site seals; you lie flat, then progress to sitting and walking; a suture is removed before discharge.
Neck (internal jugular vein): about 60 to 90 minutes of bed rest; you can sit up right away and progress to walking; a suture is removed before discharge.

Loop recorder: a roughly 1 cm incision on the left side of the sternum; no bed rest; usually discharged within about 15 to 30 minutes if done under local anesthesia (longer if you had conscious sedation); you may receive antibiotics afterward; sutures are removed in the office in 7 to 10 days.
Pacemaker (PPM / CRT-P): about 60 to 90 minutes of bed rest; a roughly 5 cm incision on the left (rarely the right) chest just under the collarbone; you can sit up right away; restrict movement of the arm on the device side; you may receive antibiotics; sutures are removed in the office in 10 to 14 days.
Defibrillator (ICD / CRT-D / BiV-ICD): about 60 to 90 minutes of bed rest; a roughly 5 cm incision on the left (rarely the right) chest just under the collarbone; you can sit up right away; restrict movement of the arm on the device side; you may receive antibiotics; sutures are removed in the office in 10 to 14 days.