Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and
pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get
home on your own.

Understand exactly what procedure is planned, along with
the risks, benefits, and other options.

Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements,
and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk
of problems during your procedure. Your doctor will tell
you if you should stop taking any of them before the
procedure and how soon to do it.

If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your
doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your
procedure. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it.
(These medicines include aspirin and other blood
thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your
doctor wants you to do.

Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your
advance directive. If you don't have one, you may want to
prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes.
It's a good thing to have before any type of surgery or
procedure.

Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating
and drinking. If you don't, your procedure may be
canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines
on the day of the procedure, take them with only a sip of
water.

Follow your doctor's instructions about when to bathe or
shower before your procedure. Do not apply lotions,
perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.

Do not shave the surgical site yourself.

Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact
lenses, if you wear them.

Bring a picture ID.

You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia
provider. You may get medicine that relaxes you or puts
you in a light sleep. The area being worked on will be
numb.

The procedure will probably take about 1 to 2 hours.

After the procedure, pressure may be applied for a short
time to the area where the catheter was put into your
blood vessel. This will help prevent bleeding. A small
device may also be used to close the blood vessel. You may
have a bandage or compression device on the catheter site.

If the catheter was placed in your neck or arm, you may be
able to sit up in your bed right away.

If the catheter was put in your groin, you will need to
lie still and keep your leg straight for up to a few
hours. The nurse may put a weighted bag on your leg to
help you keep it still.

You may be able to go home later the same day. Or you may
need to stay in the hospital overnight.

You have questions or concerns.

You don't understand how to prepare for your procedure.

You become ill before the procedure (such as fever, flu,
or a cold).

You need to reschedule or have changed your mind about
having the procedure.