Care of your cardiac implantable electronic device
Cardiac Device Incision
Step 1: Wash hands with soap and water before and after touching incision
Step 2: Remove dressing 3 days after procedure. Shower
Step 3: Examine daily after shower. Pat dry
Step 4: Remove steri strips if they have not fallen off after 7 - 10 days. Leave open to air
How can I help healing?
- Follow a healthy diet and stop smoking
- Restrict arm movement on side of incision for 4 - 6 weeks if you have received a new lead
- Keep your hands off the incision as much as possible
- Follow the instructions you have been given for exercise and activity
- Persons living with diabetes are advised to ensure adequate control of your blood sugar
Tips for dealing with discomfort
- Take medications as needed
- Pain should decrease every day
- Itching, tightness or numbness along your incisions is normal
Tips for Stitches
- Most wounds do no require the removal of stitches as they will dissolve on their own
Tips for Steri Strips
- Small strips of non-allergic tape are put across the wound to hold the edges together. They will fall off on their own or gently remove after 7 -10 days
Do not use any lotions or ointments over the incision
Call your clinic (416-480-4471) if:
- Increased drainage, swelling or oozing from incision
- Opening of the incision line
- Increasing pain and redness around the incision
- Increasing warmth along the incision line
- Bleeding that does not stop with pressure
- Increasing body temperature greater than 101℉ or 38℃
