Angiography through the radial artery (wrist): Caring for your child at home after the procedure

Your child has had an angiography through the radial artery. This is a procedure using the artery in the wrist as the main access point.

The information on this page explains how to care for your child at home after the procedure, and when to call for help.

Discharge from the hospital

During the procedure, your child was given a compression wrist band device specifically designed to stop bleeding at the access site. The band will be removed before your child’s discharge home.

In most cases, children go home the same day as the procedure. This usually occurs approximately 3-4 hours after the procedure. Your child’s nurse will let you know when they are well enough to go home.

Dressing care

If your child has a clear dressing or bandage on, you can remove it after 24 hours. There is no need to replace the bandage if it is accidentally removed before 24 hours.

Bathing

Your child may have a bath or shower the day after the angiography. By this time, the dressing may be taken off, and the catheter entry site may be gently washed with soap and water.

Meals

If your child is feeling well enough after the anaesthetic, they can return to eating what they normally eat. It is also important to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids for 48 hours after the procedure.

Pain relief

If needed, give your child acetaminophen for pain. Do not give your child any medicines that will thin the blood, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or ibuprofen, without checking with your child's health-care provider first.

Activity

After the angiography, your child will need to stay relaxed and comfortable. They should immobilize the upper limb/wrist with the provided splint overnight.

Your child will need to stay home from school or daycare and avoid any physical activity for 24 hours. They may go back to school 48 hours after the angiography.

Your child should not do any of the following:

• Lift anything greater than 2 kg for 72 hours
• Text with, flex or bend the procedure-site hand for 12 hours

Radiation

• Your child's procedure required the use of X-rays.
• Radiation side-effects are extremely unlikely but can occur.
• Please check your child's skin in the area of the exam for signs of redness or rash two to four weeks from the date of the procedure. Please speak to a nurse in the interventional radiology department if these signs occur.

Results

The doctor who ordered the procedure will receive the results of your child's angiography. You will need to make an appointment with them to discuss the results.

When to see a doctor

Call your child's doctor or go to the nearest Emergency Department right away if your child has any of the following symptoms:

• Fever greater than 38°C (100.4°F)
• Headache or throwing up (vomiting) that does not stop
• Persistent/worsening pain or tingling sensations where the catheter was inserted, or in the fingers
• Bleeding or swelling around the forearm, wrist or fingers
• A growing bruise around the wrist
• Change in the colour or temperature of the hand on the side of the body where the catheter was inserted; for example, if the hand turns a pale blue or is cool to touch 

At SickKids

If you have any concerns in the first 48 hours, call the Image Guided Therapy (IGT) clinic at (416) 813-7654 ext. 201804. Speak to the IGT clinic nurse during working hours or leave a non-urgent message.

If you have concerns and it is after working hours, see your primary care provider or go to the nearest Emergency Department. You can also call The Hospital for Sick Children switchboard at (416) 813-7500 and ask them to page a member of your child’s health-care team or the interventional radiology fellow on call.