The bruises from a catheter angiogram will certainly heal; the question is just how long does this normally take and is this something that the patient should worry about?
It’s actually more out of the ordinary to NOT have a bruise after a catheter angiogram than to have one develop as a result of the catheter placement.
How Long It Takes Bruises to Heal After Catheter Angiogram
“One to two weeks generally unless one is on Coumadin,” says Teri Dreher, RN, CCRN, an award-winning RN patient advocate and pioneer in the field of private patient advocacy.
Dreher, a critical care nurse for 30+ years, is a former cardiovascular nurse clinician for Wisconsin Heart and Vascular.
“Taking vitamin C helps the bruise resolve. If there was excessive bleeding at the site immediately post-procedure, then longer,” perhaps around three weeks.
The bruise appears in the area where your physician had inserted the catheter.
The cause of the bruising is from blood that has escaped from the vessel beneath your skin.
The bruise may be small or what seems like big to you, and even if it seems large, this is normal.
In fact, there’s no need to report to your doctor that you have a bruise. Remember, something was stuck under your skin.
Make sure you read your discharge instructions to know just what conditions do warrant reporting to your doctor.
If the bruise following your catheter angiogram is an “ugly” black, purple and blue, this is still normal and nothing to worry about. Give it up to three weeks to vanish.
Teri Dreher, RN, CCM, is the founder of NShore Patient Advocates. A critical care nurse for 35+ years, she’s also the author of “How to Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones,” available on Amazon.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
