From the Guidelines

Follow-up management after cardiac catheterization and stent placement is crucial for preventing future morbidity and mortality.

Patients should be instructed to contact their physician or seek immediate medical attention if symptoms recur, as emphasized in the 2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI guideline for percutaneous coronary intervention 1.
Strict compliance with aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitor therapy is essential and should be emphasized to the patient at the time of discharge and during follow-up visits.
A follow-up visit is usually scheduled to assess the patient's clinical status, compliance with secondary prevention therapies, and the success of secondary prevention measures, such as blood pressure control, low-density lipoprotein levels, and smoking cessation 1.
Secondary prevention measures, including lifestyle modifications and medical therapy, are an essential part of long-term therapy to reduce future morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) 1.

Routine, periodic stress testing of asymptomatic patients is not considered part of standard patient follow-up 1.
Patients should be given instructions on return to work and timing of return to full activities by their physician.

From the Research

The follow-up management for a patient after cardiac catheterization and stent placement involves regular check-ups with both the primary care physician and the cardiologist 2.
The first follow-up should be one week after the procedure, and then every three to six months for the first year 2.
Clinical history taking and physical examination, including an assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and potential evidence of myocardial ischemia, are essential for detecting possible progression of coronary heart disease 2.
Diagnostic coronary angiography is not routinely indicated after coronary stent implantation, but may be necessary if progression of heart disease is suspected or if the patient develops symptoms or shows evidence of ischemia in a stress test 2.

Chest symptoms are common after stent placement, experienced by two thirds of patients at some time during the 10 weeks post-discharge 3.
These symptoms can be recurrent, brief, and intermittent, and may be described as discomforting, dull, tight, sharp, pressing, or flickering 3.
Patients may be unsure what to do about these symptoms, and cardiac rehabilitation staff can play a crucial role in supporting and informing them about appropriate responses 3.

A nurse practitioner-managed follow-up model of care can be effective in bridging the gap between acute care and the community setting for cardiac surgery patients, including those who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery 4.
This model can lead to improved health-related quality of life, patient satisfaction, and reduced symptoms, and can provide high-quality support to patients after discharge 4.

The optimal positioning after outpatient cardiac catheterization is an important consideration, and varying patient position can be at least as safe as the traditional supine position and more comfortable for patients 5.
Patients who are placed on their sides or with the head of the bed elevated may experience fewer complications and greater satisfaction than those who are placed supine with the head of the bed flat 5.