What to expect after your cardiac catheterization
Heart caths take between 10 to 15 minutes. You will usually need to stay three to four hours after the procedure to rest and recover.
After the procedure, your care team will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure and temperature and check for signs of bleeding at the insertion site. If the catheter is inserted through your leg, you may need to lie still with your leg extended for several hours.
Your doctor will provide specific instructions for how to care for the insertion site after you are discharged. It is normal to feel tender there for about a week.