What is a common post-procedure care requirement after a PCI?

• A. Keep patient on bed rest for 24 hours.
• B. Maintain pressure on the site for 4-6 hours.
• C. No activity restrictions.
• D. Remove dressing immediately.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is securing the arterial access site to prevent bleeding after a PCI. When catheters are removed, the puncture in the artery needs to seal, and keeping firm pressure on that site for several hours helps form a stable clot and reduces the risk of bleeding or hematoma, especially since patients are often on anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs during the procedure. Maintaining pressure for about 4-6 hours is a common standard, though the exact duration can vary with the access route (femoral versus radial) and the patient’s anticoagulation status. Longer bed rest of 24 hours isn’t routinely required, early ambulation is possible once hemostasis is secured, activity restrictions aren’t universal, and removing the dressing immediately would increase bleeding risk.