Patient Info
Preparing for your procedure
Your care team will call before your appointment with instructions specific to your procedure and medications. The guidance below covers what applies to nearly everyone.
Before your visit
- Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before, unless your nurse tells you otherwise. Small sips of water with essential morning medications are usually permitted.
- Review every medication with our team. Blood thinners, diabetes medications, and diuretics often need to be adjusted several days ahead. Never stop a prescribed medication on your own.
- Arrange a driver. Sedation makes it unsafe to drive, and rideshare alone does not satisfy the discharge requirement. Your driver must be able to stay for the duration of your visit.
- Dress simply. Loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes. Leave the area of your procedure easy to reach.
Bring with you
- Photo identification
- Insurance card and any referral or authorization paperwork
- A complete list of medications, doses, and supplements
- A responsible adult driver who can stay through discharge
- Your CPAP machine, if you use one
- Inhalers or other rescue medications you carry daily
Leave at home
- Jewelry, watches, and valuables
- Contact lenses (wear glasses instead)
- Makeup, lotion, and nail polish
- Large bags — storage space is limited
Procedure-specific instructions
Each procedure has its own preparation and recovery guidance. If you cannot find your instructions or have lost your copy, call us at (480) 555-0100.
Note for the site owner: the cards below describe the topics each instruction sheet should cover. Attach the center’s own clinically approved PDFs and turn each card into a download link.
Electrophysiology study & ablation
Medication holds (especially blood thinners and antiarrhythmics), fasting window, sedation, and groin-site care after discharge.
PDF coming soon
Coronary & peripheral angiography
Contrast and kidney function, metformin holds, fasting, access-site care, and the activity limits for the first 48 hours.
PDF coming soon
Pacemaker & defibrillator implants
Pre-procedure antibiotics, arm movement restrictions, wound care, and when the device clinic will see you for the first check.
PDF coming soon
Loop recorder implants
A short local-anesthetic procedure: what to expect the same day, dressing care, and how remote transmissions work.
PDF coming soon
Vein procedures
Compression stocking requirements, walking expectations, bruising and tenderness timelines, and follow-up ultrasound scheduling.
PDF coming soon
Cardioversion
Anticoagulation requirements before the procedure, fasting, sedation, driver requirement, and post-procedure rhythm monitoring.
PDF coming soon
After your procedure
You will spend a short recovery period with us while sedation wears off and your vital signs are monitored. Before you leave, a nurse reviews written discharge instructions with you and your driver — sedation affects memory, so having a second person hear them matters.
Plan on a quiet rest of the day. Most patients resume normal activity within 24 to 48 hours, though lifting, driving, and exercise restrictions vary by procedure. A nurse from our team calls the next business day to check on you.
Call 911 immediately if you have
- Chest pain, pressure, or difficulty breathing
- Bleeding from the site that does not stop with pressure
- Fainting, confusion, or slurred speech
- A rapidly swelling, cold, or numb limb
For non-emergency concerns during business hours, call (480) 555-0100.
Ready to schedule?
Our scheduling team will confirm your procedure date, walk you through preparation, and answer questions about insurance and recovery.