As the person you're caring for recovers from the procedure at home, there are several things you can do to help him stay as healthy as possible.
Keep an eye on the catheter insertion site
It's normal for the area where the catheter was inserted (usually the upper thigh or arm) to feel sore for about a week after the procedure. What isn't normal is redness, swelling, bleeding, or fluid draining, which may indicate an infection. Call the doctor if you see any of these signs.
Watch out for signs of restenosis
Sometimes an artery will become narrowed or blocked again, an event called restenosis. Acute restenosis, which occurs within weeks to months of the original procedure, happens when a blood clot suddenly blocks the stented area. Chronic restenosis, which occurs within months to years, is a more gradual narrowing of the blood vessel due to scarring or plaque buildup.
The risk of restenosis depends on whether the patient received a stent as well as what type of stent was used. A regular (uncoated) stent reduces the risk of chronic restenosis, while a medicine-coated stent (sometimes called a drug-eluting stent because it releases a drug that inhibits the formation of scar tissue) reduces it even more. However, coated stents may increase the risk of acute restenosis, which is why anticoagulant medications (which inhibit blood clotting) are essential for people who have received this type of stent. If the person you're caring has a coated stent, he must take anticoagulant medications as prescribed. In general, he should never stop taking any of his medications without first consulting his cardiologist.
If his artery becomes narrowed, he may experience angina. Since angina may be a precursor to a heart attack, don't wait to see if symptoms go away: Call 911 at the first sign of chest pain or discomfort. Other warning signs include:
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Sudden discomfort or pain in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, or even stomach
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Shortness of breath, especially when at rest
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Nausea, sweating, pallor, or clamminess
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A general feeling of extreme weakness or fatigue
If the person you're caring for experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 right away.
Encourage heart-healthy lifestyle changes
Angioplasty may relieve the symptoms of an older adult's CAD, but it isn't a cure. To maintain the benefits of angioplasty, the patient needs to make lifestyle changes to prevent his condition from getting worse. He can do this by:
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Being as active as possible (within the limits set by his doctor).
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Eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet.
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Managing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes.
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Losing excess weight.
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Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke.
For more information, see our checklist for helping your parent prevent a heart attack.
