Preparing for your complex PCI: a practical guide
What to eat, what to bring, which medications to pause and what recovery actually looks like in the first two weeks after a complex stent procedure.
Preparing well makes your procedure smoother and your recovery faster. Here is what our patients tell us they wish they'd known in advance.
The week before
- Continue your aspirin unless we specifically ask you to stop.
- Pause metformin 24 hours before if we've asked (kidney protection).
- Arrange a driver for the day of discharge — you cannot drive for 48 hours.
- Pack loose clothing with sleeves that roll above the elbow.
The day of your procedure
You'll fast from midnight for water and from 6am for food. Most procedures take 60–120 minutes. You'll be lightly sedated but awake, and the wrist site is numbed. You may feel pressure but should not feel pain — tell us immediately if you do.
The first two weeks
Expect some bruising at the wrist. Walking is encouraged from day one. Avoid heavy lifting (over 5kg) for a week. Most patients return to office work within 3–5 days and to full activity within 2–3 weeks. Your medication plan and cardiac rehabilitation referral will be organised before you leave hospital.