You are awake with light sedation, and a thin tube is passed from your wrist or groin to the heart. If a stent is needed it is usually placed during the same procedure, and many people go home the same day or the next morning. Most people return to desk work within a few days and to full activity within about a week after a planned stent.
Before the procedure
This page covers preparing, the day and recovery. For what an angiogram and stent are, see Heart procedures explained: angiograms, stents and advanced techniques.
Your cardiologist will explain why the angiogram is recommended, the likely findings and the risks for you. The hospital then contacts you with the date, arrival time and instructions.
- A referral and booking are arranged by your cardiologist's rooms.
- Blood tests beforehand check your kidney function and blood count.
- The hospital will tell you when to stop eating and drinking. Follow their fasting instructions rather than general advice.
- Ask which of your medicines to take on the morning of the procedure. Don't stop blood thinners unless you have been told to.
- Bring a list of all your medicines and doses, your Medicare and health fund cards, and anything you need for an overnight stay.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home and, ideally, stay with you overnight.
Tell the team if you have had a reaction to X-ray contrast dye, if you have diabetes or kidney problems, or if you take a blood thinner. Also tell them if you take a GLP-1 medicine for diabetes or weight (many are weekly injections), and if you have nausea, vomiting or bloating. You will usually keep taking it, but may be asked to have only clear fluids for 24 hours before the procedure. The hospital will confirm.
On the day
A planned angiogram follows a familiar routine. The team explains each step as it happens.
Arrival
You change into a gown, and a nurse checks your details, medicines and allergies.
Cannula and sedation
A small drip goes into your arm. Light sedation helps you relax while staying awake.
Wrist or groin
The skin is numbed with local anaesthetic. The wrist is used in most people.
The angiogram
A thin tube is guided to the heart and dye is injected while X-ray pictures are taken.
Stent if needed
If a narrowing needs treatment, a balloon opens it and a stent holds it open.
Recovery
Nurses check your pulse, blood pressure and the wrist or groin while you rest.
After a wrist procedure you can usually sit up and eat soon after. After a groin procedure you may need to lie flat for a few hours. Many people go home the same day or the next morning. After a heart attack or a complex procedure, the stay is longer.
After you go home
If the wrist was used
A tight band is removed after a few hours. Avoid heavy lifting or pushing with that arm for about a week. Some bruising and tenderness is common.
If the groin was used
Avoid straining, heavy lifting and vigorous exercise for the time your team advises. A small bruise or lump is common and settles over a week or two.
Most people return to desk work within a few days and to full activity within about a week after a planned stent. Physical or heavy work may take longer. If you had a stent after a heart attack, you will be offered cardiac rehabilitation, which helps you return to activity safely.
Medicines after a stent
After a stent you take two antiplatelet medicines (blood thinners that stop clots forming on the stent). This is called dual antiplatelet therapy, or DAPT. One of them is usually aspirin.
After a planned stent
DAPT usually for about 6 months.
After a heart attack
DAPT usually for about 12 months.
Then one tablet
One antiplatelet medicine, usually long term.
These times are individualised. They may be shorter if your bleeding risk is high, and your letter should state when the second medicine stops.
If you take an anticoagulant (for example for AF), the plan is different: usually your anticoagulant plus clopidogrel, and your letter will say for how long. You may also be prescribed a stomach-protecting medicine to lower the risk of bleeding.
Ticagrelor can cause mild breathlessness in the first weeks. Tell your doctor, but don't stop it yourself.
Driving
The Australian fitness-to-drive standards (Austroads, Assessing Fitness to Drive, current edition) advise these minimum times off driving:
Private licence
At least 2 days after a planned angiogram or stent, and at least 2 weeks after a heart attack.
Commercial licence
At least 4 weeks after a stent or a heart attack, and longer after bypass surgery.
Your doctor may advise longer. Check with your doctor and the WA Department of Transport.
Warning signs after the procedure
For referring doctorsClinical notes for GPs
- Send: recent eGFR and FBC, current medicines with doses, anticoagulant and indication, diabetes medicines, and any contrast allergy.
- Medicines: see the table below.
- After discharge: confirm the DAPT stop date in the letter, and refer to cardiac rehabilitation. A proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is recommended for people on two antiplatelet medicines, or an anticoagulant plus an antiplatelet, particularly with bleeding risk factors (ESC 2023/2024).
- Surgery after stents: elective non-cardiac surgery is usually deferred about 6 months after planned PCI and about 12 months after ACS where possible. Don't stop antiplatelets without discussing with the cardiologist.
| Medicine | Around an angiogram or PCI |
|---|---|
| Aspirin | Continue. |
| P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel, ticagrelor, prasugrel) | Continue unless told otherwise. |
| Warfarin | Check INR 1–2 days before. The rooms will advise the acceptable INR for wrist access or a hold plan. No bridging unless advised. |
| DOAC | Usually withheld 24–48 hours before (longer for dabigatran if CrCl <50). No bridging. |
| SGLT2 inhibitor | Stop on the day of a day procedure; 2 days before (3 for ertugliflozin) if an overnight stay or longer fasting. (ADS/ADEA/ANZCA/NZSSD alert, updated 2023) |
| Metformin | Continue if eGFR ≥30 and no AKI. If eGFR <30 or AKI, withhold for 48 hours after contrast and recheck renal function. (RANZCR iodinated contrast guideline) |
| Insulin | Long-acting (basal) insulin: usually give about 75–80% of the usual dose the evening before or the morning of the procedure. Never omit basal insulin in type 1 diabetes. Withhold short-acting insulin while fasting. The hospital will confirm (ADS/ANZCA). |
| GLP-1 receptor agonist (and GLP-1/GIP co-agonist) | Usually continue; elective cessation is not recommended. Clear fluids for 24 hours before the procedure, then standard fasting. Ask the patient to tell the team they take one (many are weekly injections) and about any nausea, vomiting or bloating. The hospital will confirm. (ADS/ANZCA/GESA/NACOS 2025) |
The hospital will confirm the plan. General information for referring practitioners. Check current MBS and PBS criteria before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be awake during the angiogram?
Yes, usually. You have light sedation to help you relax and local anaesthetic where the tube goes in. Most people feel pressure rather than pain, and some notice a warm feeling when the dye is injected.
Will I know the results straight away?
Usually yes. Your cardiologist will explain what the angiogram showed, and whether a stent was placed, before you go home, and a letter is sent to your GP.
When can I exercise again?
Gentle walking is usually fine within a day or two. After a heart attack, cardiac rehabilitation guides you back to more vigorous exercise.
References
- Vrints C, et al. 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of chronic coronary syndromes. Eur Heart J. 2024;45(36):3415-3537. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehae177
- Byrne RA, et al. 2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes. Eur Heart J. 2023;44(38):3720-3826. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehad191
- Van Gelder IC, et al. 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J. 2024;45(36):3314-3414. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehae176
- Austroads. Assessing Fitness to Drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers (current edition). Cardiovascular conditions. Link
- Australian Diabetes Society, ADEA, ANZCA, NZSSD. Periprocedural diabetic ketoacidosis with SGLT2 inhibitor use: alert. Updated May 2023. Link
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. Iodinated contrast media guideline, version 2.3. 2018. Link
- Hocking SL, Scott DA, Remedios ML, et al. 2025 ADS/ANZCA/GESA/NACOS clinical practice recommendations on the peri-procedural use of GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2025;53(5):300–306. doi:10.1177/0310057X251355288