After a Renal Angiogram: Puncture Site Rest, Fluids and When Normal Activity Resumes

The strangest part, people say afterward, is not the procedure. It is the ceiling. You spend four or more hours studying the tiles above a recovery bay, told to keep one leg straight and not to lift your head too far, while a nurse checks your groin, your pulse and your blood pressure on a schedule that feels almost musical. Somewhere in that stretch the question arrives: when does life go back to normal?

Recovery after renal angiogram is, for most people, measured in hours and days rather than weeks. The test itself is a way of photographing the arteries that feed the kidneys. What comes after is mostly about protecting a small hole in a large artery and helping the body rinse out the dye.

This article walks through that stretch honestly: the lying-still phase, why fluids matter, when driving and lifting usually resume, and the handful of signs that should send you to the phone or the emergency department.

What is a renal angiogram, and what actually happens on the table?

A renal angiogram (also called renal arteriography) is an X-ray study of the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys. Because blood vessels do not show up on a plain X-ray, the radiologist injects a contrast dye, an iodine-based liquid that makes the inside of the artery visible, and takes rapid pictures as it flows through.

Getting the dye there is the part patients remember. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is threaded into an artery, most often the femoral artery at the top of the thigh or the radial artery at the wrist, and guided under X-ray to the renal arteries near the spine. You are usually awake, with numbing medicine at the entry point and sometimes a light sedative. MedlinePlus describes a brief warm flush or metallic taste when the dye is injected; this passes within seconds.

Why do doctors want these pictures? Usually to look for renal artery stenosis, a narrowing of the artery that can drive high blood pressure or reduce kidney function; sometimes for an aneurysm, a balloon-like weak spot in the artery wall; occasionally for bleeding, a tumor’s blood supply, or planning before kidney surgery or transplant. Increasingly, CT and MR angiography, which use scanners rather than a catheter, answer the same questions without an artery puncture. A catheter angiogram is often reserved for cases where those scans are unclear or where treatment such as angioplasty may happen in the same sitting.

The whole study typically takes under an hour of table time according to MedlinePlus, though preparation and recovery stretch the day considerably. When the catheter comes out, the team presses firmly on the puncture for several minutes or uses a closure device, a small plug or stitch that seals the artery from inside. That small seal is what the next several hours are designed to protect.

Recovery after renal angiogram: why the first hours are about lying still

An artery is a high-pressure pipe. Every heartbeat pushes blood against the fresh puncture, and the clot forming there is fragile in its first hours. That is the entire logic behind bed rest after a groin approach. MedlinePlus advises lying flat with the leg kept straight for about 4 to 6 hours after renal arteriography, and Johns Hopkins describes a similar period of flat rest with regular checks of the puncture site and the pulses in the foot.

Those checks are not ceremonial. Nurses look for three things: bleeding at the surface, a swelling under the skin called a hematoma (blood that has leaked into the surrounding tissue), and any change in the color, warmth or pulse of the leg below the puncture, which would suggest the artery is not delivering blood properly. Blood pressure and heart rate are recorded on a tapering schedule, close together at first and then spaced out.

Bending at the hip is the enemy in this window. Coughing, sneezing or laughing hard can also raise pressure at the site; most teams ask you to press a hand firmly over the dressing if you feel a cough coming. Eating and drinking usually resume as soon as sedation has worn off, and a bedpan or urinal replaces the walk to the bathroom.

If a closure device was used, some centers shorten the flat time, though the exact interval varies and is decided by the team based on the size of the catheter, your blood-thinning medicines and how the puncture looks. Ask what your target time is rather than assuming a number from the internet.

The first walk, when it comes, is supervised. Standing up after hours of lying flat can make anyone lightheaded, and the team wants to see the dressing stay dry once the artery is under the full pressure of an upright body.

Groin or wrist: how the puncture site changes your recovery

Where the catheter went in shapes the rest of your day more than almost anything else. The femoral artery in the groin is large and easy to reach, but it lies deep and close to the hip joint, so it needs long flat rest. The radial artery at the wrist is smaller and sits just under the skin against bone, so it can be compressed with a snug band and you can sit up and often walk soon afterward. The NHS notes that wrist access is increasingly used for angiography for exactly this reason, though it is not suitable for everyone and some renal studies are still easier from the groin.

Aspect	Groin (femoral) approach	Wrist (radial) approach
Position after the catheter is removed	Flat, leg straight, typically 4–6 hours (MedlinePlus)	Sitting up soon after; wrist band applied for a few hours
Most common minor problem	Bruise or small lump at the top of the thigh	Bruise or tenderness at the wrist; occasionally the artery narrows or closes silently
What to protect in the first days	Avoid bending deeply at the hip, squatting, stairs in bulk	Avoid gripping, lifting or leaning on that hand
Typical discharge	Same day or next morning (NHS)	Usually same day (NHS)

Neither route is “better” in a way that should worry you; radiologists choose based on your anatomy, the size of equipment they expect to need, and whether treatment may follow. A wrist puncture that heals cleanly and a groin puncture that heals cleanly end up in the same place a week later. The difference is mostly in the first afternoon.

Whichever site you have, the dressing can usually come off after a day, and a shower rather than a bath is the standard early advice so the puncture is not soaked. Johns Hopkins recommends keeping the area clean and dry and checking it daily for changes.

Fluids after a renal angiogram: what the contrast does and how the body clears it

The nurse who keeps refilling your water cup is doing more than being kind. Iodinated contrast is cleared from the blood almost entirely by the kidneys, the very organs the angiogram was studying. Good hydration keeps blood volume up and urine flowing, which helps dilute the dye and move it out. MedlinePlus and the NHS both advise drinking plenty of fluids after angiography unless your doctor has told you to restrict fluid for another reason, such as heart failure or advanced kidney disease.

Why the caution about kidneys? Contrast can, in a minority of people, cause a temporary drop in kidney function known as contrast-associated acute kidney injury. The mechanism is partly a narrowing of small kidney vessels and partly a direct effect on the tubule cells that filter blood. It is more likely when kidney function is already reduced, when you are dehydrated, when you have diabetes, or when a large volume of dye is used. Most cases are mild and recover over days, which is why many people are asked for a blood test a day or two after the procedure to check creatinine, the waste product that rises when filtering slows.

Before the angiogram, the team may have given you fluids through a drip for the same reason. After it, water, diluted juice, or the fluids you normally drink are all fine. Alcohol is usually discouraged for the first day because it dehydrates and can interact with sedatives.

A practical way to judge your hydration at home is urine color: pale straw suggests you are keeping up; dark amber suggests you are behind. If you have been told to limit fluid for a heart or kidney condition, that instruction wins, and the team will have planned your contrast dose and monitoring accordingly. Never override a fluid restriction on the strength of general advice.

Renal angiogram recovery time: driving, lifting, work and when normal activity resumes

People want a calendar, so here is the honest shape of one, with the caveat that your team’s instructions replace anything written here.

Day of the procedure. Flat rest, monitoring, a first supervised walk, discharge in the evening or the next morning. The NHS advises that someone should drive you home and ideally stay with you overnight, because sedation lingers and because the puncture is at its most vulnerable.

Days one to two. The NHS suggests avoiding driving, heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for at least a day or two after angiography. Walking around the house is encouraged; it lowers clot risk in the legs and is gentle on the site. A desk job can often be resumed within this window, physical work a little later.

The first week. A bruise that spreads and changes color is normal and is described by the NHS as something that fades over a week or two. Mild tenderness at the site is expected. Sexual activity, gym work and lifting anything that makes you strain are commonly cleared after about a week, though the exact advice varies by center and by whether a stent was placed.

Beyond. By two weeks the site should look and feel like ordinary skin with, at most, a fading bruise or a small firm spot where the closure device sits. That spot can persist for weeks and is harmless.

Two things stretch this timeline: an angioplasty or stent placed during the same session, which adds new medicines and a closer follow-up, and any complication at the puncture site. Two things do not stretch it much: age alone, and mild anxiety about the result, which is very common while you wait for the report to be discussed. If your instructions differ from these general ranges, follow yours; they were written for your artery, not the average one.

Renal angiogram side effects: what is usually harmless and what is not

Most renal angiogram side effects fall into the category of “annoying but expected.” A bruise at the puncture site is the most common, sometimes impressive in size and color. A small firm lump the width of a fingertip can form where blood clotted under the skin; the NHS describes this as usually settling on its own. Mild soreness, a feeling of fatigue for a day, and a faint metallic taste that lingers a few hours are all ordinary.

Some people notice they urinate more than usual for a day; that is contrast and the extra fluids leaving. Others feel slightly nauseated from sedation. Neither needs treatment beyond rest and fluids.

Then there is a shorter list that matters more. A lump that grows, becomes tense or pulsates may be a pseudoaneurysm, a pocket of blood still connected to the artery through the puncture. Bleeding that soaks the dressing or does not stop with firm pressure is an emergency. A leg or hand that turns pale, cold, numb or painful below the puncture suggests blocked blood flow. Fever with redness spreading from the site raises the question of infection, which the NHS lists as uncommon but real.

Allergic reactions to contrast range from hives to, very rarely, a severe reaction with wheezing or facial swelling. Most happen within minutes while you are still in the department; delayed skin rashes can appear over the next day or two and are usually mild, but the team should hear about them so your record is flagged before any future scan.

The kidney effect discussed earlier is silent. You will not feel a modest creatinine rise, which is why the follow-up blood test, when ordered, is not optional busywork. Passing very little urine over a day, new swelling in the legs, or unusual breathlessness are the rare signs that kidney function has dipped more sharply and warrant a same-day call.

Who usually has a renal angiogram, and who is asked to wait?

The typical candidate is someone whose blood pressure resists several medicines, whose kidney function is declining without a clear explanation, or whose kidney artery looked narrow or irregular on an ultrasound or CT scan. Mayo Clinic describes renal artery stenosis as most often caused by atherosclerosis, the fatty buildup that also narrows heart and leg arteries, and less often by fibromuscular dysplasia, a condition in which the artery wall develops abnormal cell growth, typically in younger women. People being evaluated as living kidney donors or transplant recipients, and people with suspected aneurysms or bleeding, round out the list.

Not everyone who might benefit goes straight to the table. Several situations prompt the team to pause, adjust or choose a different test:

• Reduced kidney function. Because contrast can stress the kidneys, people with significant chronic kidney disease may be offered CT or MR angiography, extra pre-hydration, a smaller dye volume, or a delay until function stabilizes.
• Previous contrast reaction. A documented allergy leads to premedication planning or an alternative imaging route; the decision sits with the radiology team.
• Blood-thinning medicines. Anticoagulants and some antiplatelet drugs increase bleeding at the puncture. Whether to pause them, and for how long, depends on why you take them and is decided by the prescriber; never stop them on your own.
• Pregnancy. X-ray angiography is generally avoided unless the benefit clearly outweighs the radiation risk to the fetus; MRI-based imaging without contrast is often preferred.
• Acute illness or dehydration. A non-urgent study is typically rescheduled until you are well hydrated and stable.

Being asked to wait is not a sign that something has gone wrong. It usually means the team has judged that a slower path gives the same answer with less risk to your kidneys or your artery.

If angioplasty or a stent was done at the same time

Sometimes a diagnostic angiogram becomes a treatment. If a significant narrowing is found and the team has discussed this possibility with you beforehand, they may pass a small balloon through the same catheter and inflate it to widen the artery (angioplasty), and in atherosclerotic disease often leave a stent, a fine metal mesh tube that holds the artery open. Mayo Clinic notes that angioplasty without a stent is more typical for fibromuscular dysplasia, while stents are more common in atherosclerotic narrowing.

This changes the recovery in three ways. The puncture is usually larger, so flat rest may be longer and the team watches the site more closely. Second, you will almost certainly be started on or continue antiplatelet medicines, drugs that make blood platelets less sticky so a clot does not form on the new stent while the artery lining grows over it. The class and duration are chosen by the treating team based on the stent type and your bleeding risk; the general principle is that the early months matter most and that stopping early without medical advice is the single riskiest thing a stent patient can do. Third, follow-up imaging, usually ultrasound, is scheduled to check that the artery stays open, since restenosis (re-narrowing) can occur.

Blood pressure sometimes shifts noticeably after a renal artery is opened, in either direction. The kidney that was starved of flow may suddenly receive more, changing how it handles salt and hormones. That is why home blood pressure readings in the first weeks are often requested and why existing blood pressure medicines may be adjusted by the prescriber. It is also why you should not assume that a good reading means a pill can be dropped.

What a stent does not do is treat atherosclerosis elsewhere. The same process that narrowed the renal artery is likely at work in the heart and legs, so the long-term plan almost always includes cholesterol control, blood pressure control, diabetes management if relevant and stopping smoking.

Can renal artery stenosis be reversed?

The honest answer depends on what is doing the narrowing. Atherosclerotic plaque, the cause in most older adults according to Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus, does not dissolve. It can be stabilized and slowed with cholesterol-lowering therapy, blood pressure control and lifestyle change, and in selected cases the channel can be mechanically reopened with angioplasty and a stent. That widens the artery; it does not remove the disease process, and re-narrowing is possible.

Fibromuscular dysplasia behaves differently. Because the narrowing comes from abnormal tissue rather than fatty plaque, balloon angioplasty alone often restores a normal channel, and Mayo Clinic describes this as the usual approach when the condition affects blood pressure or kidney function. Here “reversal” of the narrowing in a structural sense is realistic, though the underlying tendency in the artery wall remains and follow-up imaging continues.

A separate question is whether the consequences reverse. High blood pressure driven by a starved kidney can improve after the artery is opened, but many people, particularly those with long-standing hypertension or atherosclerosis in other vessels, still need medicines. Kidney function that has already been lost to scarring does not typically return; function that was suppressed by poor flow sometimes does. Large trials in atherosclerotic disease have shown that, for many patients, careful medical therapy performs similarly to stenting on blood pressure and kidney outcomes, which is why guidelines from vascular and cardiology societies reserve intervention for specific situations such as rapidly declining kidney function, blood pressure that cannot be controlled with medicines, or recurrent fluid in the lungs linked to the stenosis.

So the fair summary: the narrowing can often be widened; the disease that caused it is managed rather than erased; and whether intervention is worth the risks is a judgment your nephrologist, vascular specialist or interventional radiologist makes with you, using your angiogram images and your kidney numbers.

What is the recommended diet for someone with renal artery stenosis?

There is no special “renal artery stenosis diet,” and anyone selling one is ahead of the evidence. What exists is a clear consensus that the eating pattern which protects the heart also protects the arteries to the kidneys, because they are narrowed by the same atherosclerotic process. Mayo Clinic’s guidance for renal artery stenosis centers on limiting salt, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, choosing lean protein and low-fat dairy, and keeping saturated fat modest.

Sodium deserves the most attention. Salt holds water in the bloodstream and raises blood pressure, and blood pressure is both the main symptom of renal artery stenosis and the main thing that damages the remaining kidney tissue. Most dietary sodium in the United States comes from processed and restaurant food rather than the shaker, so reading labels on bread, soups, sauces and cured meats does more than skipping table salt. The American Heart Association’s general sodium guidance is the usual benchmark clinicians reference.

Potassium is where renal disease complicates the heart-healthy script. Fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium, which normally helps blood pressure, but if kidney function is significantly reduced, potassium can build up and affect heart rhythm. Some blood pressure medicine classes also raise potassium. This is the one area where general advice can be wrong for you, and a renal dietitian or your nephrologist should set your target.

Protein is similar: adequate for health, but people with advanced kidney disease are sometimes asked to moderate it. Alcohol raises blood pressure and is best limited. Smoking, though not food, belongs in any conversation about arteries; it accelerates atherosclerosis faster than any single dietary misstep.

For the days right after your angiogram, the diet question is simpler: return to your usual eating as soon as sedation wears off, lean on fluids, and go easy on very salty meals that would work against the blood pressure control you and your team are trying to achieve.

What is the most common cause of renal artery aneurysms?

A renal artery aneurysm is a localized bulge where the artery wall has weakened and stretched. It is uncommon, often found by accident on a scan done for something else, and most are small and silent. When people ask about the cause, they are usually asking whether they did something to bring it on, and the answer is almost always no.

The two processes most commonly associated with renal artery aneurysms are atherosclerosis, which weakens the wall as plaque degrades its elastic layers, and fibromuscular dysplasia, which produces both narrowed segments and dilated ones in the same artery, giving a “string of beads” appearance on angiography that Mayo Clinic describes as characteristic. Less common causes include inherited connective tissue disorders that weaken artery walls throughout the body, inflammation of blood vessels, trauma, and previous procedures on the artery. Long-standing high blood pressure is a frequent companion and is thought to contribute by adding pressure to an already weakened wall.

Why does this matter after an angiogram? Because the catheter study is one of the most precise ways to measure an aneurysm’s size, shape and relationship to the branches that feed different parts of the kidney. Those details decide whether the team simply monitors it with periodic imaging, treats it with a catheter-based technique such as coil placement or a covered stent, or, rarely, recommends open surgery. Size, growth over time, symptoms, and pregnancy or plans for pregnancy are the factors most guidelines weigh, because aneurysm rupture, while rare, is more likely in pregnancy.

If your angiogram was done to evaluate an aneurysm rather than a stenosis, the recovery rules for the puncture site, fluids and activity are identical. What differs is the conversation afterward, which will center on measurements rather than blood pressure. Ask for the numbers and what threshold would change the plan; a good team will have them ready.

What people often get wrong about recovery after a renal angiogram

“It was only a test, so there is nothing to recover from.” The test part is true; the artery puncture is not nothing. Most complications of angiography, per the NHS, happen at the entry site, and they happen when people bend, lift or drive too soon.

“A bruise means something went wrong.” A bruise means blood leaked into tissue, which is common and expected. The size can be alarming, and it often spreads downward with gravity before it fades. What matters is whether it is enlarging, tense or pulsating, not how colorful it is.

“I should drink as much water as I possibly can.” Steady, generous fluids help the kidneys clear contrast. Forcing very large volumes does not add benefit and can be dangerous for people with heart failure or fluid restrictions. Pale urine is the target, not a gallon count.

“The dye is radioactive.” Iodinated contrast is not radioactive. The X-ray machine delivers radiation during the pictures; the dye simply makes the vessels visible and is filtered out by the kidneys.

“If my blood pressure is normal after the procedure, the problem is fixed.” Pressure can swing after a renal artery is imaged or opened, sedation lowers it temporarily, and medicines are still on board. Changing or stopping a blood pressure drug is a decision for the prescriber after reviewing home readings over days.

“Wrist access means no restrictions.” The wrist approach spares you the flat hours, but the radial artery still needs a day or two of protection from gripping, lifting and leaning. It can also narrow silently afterward, which is why teams check the pulse and may advise against future procedures through the same wrist.

“Renal artery stenosis always needs a stent.” For atherosclerotic narrowing, medical management is the first-line approach for many patients, with intervention reserved for specific clinical situations. An angiogram that shows a narrowing is the start of a discussion, not an automatic referral for a procedure.

Questions to ask your care team

Recovery instructions vary between centers more than patients expect, and the sheet you are handed at discharge is often generic. These questions turn it into a plan written for you.

• Which artery did you use, and was a closure device placed? How long do you want me flat, and what should the site look like tomorrow?
• How much fluid should I aim for over the next day, and is there any reason I should limit it?
• Do I need a blood test to check kidney function after the contrast, and when?
• When can I drive, climb stairs freely, return to my job and resume exercise? Are there specific movements to avoid?
• Which of my usual medicines were paused for the procedure, and exactly when should each restart? Please confirm this in writing.
• If a stent or angioplasty was done, what new medicines am I taking, why, and what happens if I miss a dose or need surgery elsewhere?
• What did the angiogram show, in plain terms? Is there a narrowing or aneurysm, how large, and does it change my treatment?
• What blood pressure readings at home should prompt a call, in either direction?
• Who do I contact after hours if the site bleeds or swells, and where should I go?
• When is the follow-up appointment, and will imaging be repeated?

Write the answers down or ask a companion to. Sedation blunts memory for several hours, and the details that matter most, such as which medicines to restart and when, are the easiest to lose.

One more question is worth asking even when everything went smoothly: what would have to happen for the plan to change? Knowing the threshold, whether it is a kidney number, a blood pressure trend or an aneurysm measurement, turns waiting into monitoring and makes the next conversation more useful.

When to call your doctor

Most people never need this section, which is exactly why it is worth reading once while you are well. The puncture site and the kidneys are the two places where trouble shows up, and each has clear signals.

Go to an emergency department or call emergency services if:

• The puncture site bleeds and does not stop after 10 minutes of firm, continuous pressure, or bleeds heavily at any point.
• A lump at the site grows quickly, feels tense or pulsates like a heartbeat.
• The leg or hand below the puncture becomes pale, cold, blue, numb, weak or severely painful.
• You develop chest pain, sudden breathlessness, facial swelling, wheezing, or feel faint and cannot recover when lying down.
• You have severe back or flank pain with dizziness, which can indicate bleeding inside the abdomen.

Call your care team the same day if:

• Redness, warmth or pus develops around the site, or you run a fever.
• You pass very little urine over 12 hours despite drinking, or notice new swelling in your legs.
• Home blood pressure readings are far outside the range your team gave you, or you feel lightheaded when standing.
• A rash or hives appears in the days after the contrast.
• You are unsure whether or when to restart a paused medicine.

Bruising that spreads and changes color over a week or two, mild tenderness, tiredness for a day and a small firm pea-sized spot under the skin are expected and do not need a call, though mentioning them at follow-up helps the team document a normal recovery.

If in doubt, call. The team that placed the catheter would far rather hear about a harmless bruise than miss a pseudoaneurysm, and every decision about the site, your medicines and your kidneys rests with them.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to recover from a renal angiogram?

Most people feel back to normal within a day or two. The same-day phase involves several hours of monitoring, and the NHS advises avoiding driving, heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for at least a day or two afterward. Bruising at the site can take a week or two to fade. If angioplasty or a stent was performed in the same session, follow-up is closer and the team may extend some restrictions.

How long do you have to lie flat after an angiogram?

For a groin (femoral) puncture, MedlinePlus advises lying flat with the leg straight for about 4 to 6 hours. Centers using a closure device sometimes shorten this, while a larger catheter or blood-thinning medicines can lengthen it. With a wrist (radial) approach, you can usually sit up soon after, with a compression band on the wrist for a few hours instead.

What are the common renal angiogram side effects?

The most common are a bruise or small tender lump at the puncture site, a day of tiredness, and increased urination as the contrast and fluids leave. Less common problems include a growing or pulsating lump, bleeding, infection at the site, an allergic reaction to contrast, and a temporary dip in kidney function, which is why a follow-up blood test is often arranged.

Why do I need to drink lots of fluids after a renal angiogram?

Contrast dye is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, and good hydration keeps urine flowing so the dye is diluted and cleared. Both MedlinePlus and the NHS advise drinking plenty of fluids after angiography. The exception is anyone with a heart or kidney condition that requires fluid restriction; in that case the team’s specific limit takes priority over general advice.

When can I drive after a renal angiogram?

Not on the day of the procedure, because sedation impairs reaction time and the puncture is fresh. The NHS advises avoiding driving for at least a day or two after angiography. Someone should drive you home and ideally stay with you overnight. If a stent was placed or a complication occurred, your team may advise a longer pause, so confirm the timing before you leave.

Can renal artery stenosis be reversed?

It depends on the cause. Atherosclerotic narrowing does not dissolve; it can be slowed with medical therapy and, in selected cases, widened with angioplasty and a stent, though re-narrowing is possible. Fibromuscular dysplasia often responds to balloon angioplasty alone. Blood pressure may improve after treatment but often still needs medicines, and kidney function already lost to scarring does not typically return.

What is the most common cause of renal artery aneurysms?

Renal artery aneurysms are most commonly associated with atherosclerosis, which weakens the artery wall, and with fibromuscular dysplasia, which produces alternating narrowed and dilated segments. Rarer causes include inherited connective tissue disorders, vessel inflammation and trauma. Long-standing high blood pressure often contributes. Most are small, found incidentally, and monitored with imaging rather than treated.

What is the recommended diet for someone with renal artery stenosis?

A heart-healthy pattern low in sodium, with plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and lean protein, is what Mayo Clinic and cardiology guidance recommend, because the same atherosclerosis narrows both heart and kidney arteries. Potassium and protein targets may need adjusting if kidney function is reduced, so a renal dietitian or nephrologist should personalize them. Limiting alcohol and stopping smoking matter as much as any food choice.

Is it normal to have a lump in the groin after a renal angiogram?

A small, firm, pea-sized lump under the skin is common and usually represents a minor collection of clotted blood or a closure device; it typically softens over weeks. A lump that enlarges, feels tense, pulsates, or is accompanied by increasing pain, bleeding or a cold or numb leg is not normal and should be assessed the same day, as it may be a pseudoaneurysm.

When can I shower or bathe after a renal angiogram?

A shower is usually fine the day after the procedure once the dressing is removed, keeping the site clean and patting it dry. Soaking in a bath, hot tub or pool is generally discouraged for several days to a week so the puncture is not softened or exposed to bacteria. Johns Hopkins advises keeping the area clean and dry and checking it daily until it has healed.

References

• MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Renal arteriography
• NHS: Angiography, what happens

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.