What should a patient do if he or she bleeds after a cardiac catheterization?

Direct pressure & ER: Put lots of hard direct pressure over the bleeding point and go to the e r if outside the hospital asap.

Cath: Bleeding post catheterization is less common with radial approach but can still happen. The femoral approach more commonly has post procedural bleeding. Pressure over the wound site for 5-10minutes will usually stop the bleeding but if it does not. Pressure should be continued and the patient should go to the er to have further care and possibly repair of the wound.