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How long does it take to recover from a heart catheterization?

You should be awake and able to eat and drink within an hour after the test is completed.  If you did not need a stent placed, you may be able to go home within a few hours of the procedure.  You will be monitored for any sites of bleeding or bruising at the site of the catheter placement for a couple of hours.  You may be sore at the site of the catheter insertion (neck, arm, or leg) for a few days.

If you need a stent placed, it is typically performed during the same procedure, and you may stay overnight in the hospital and go home the next day.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of ACA compliant major medical plans. Coverage and plan options vary and may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure. You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.