Can you walk right after having a heart stent procedure?

Whether a person can walk after undergoing cardiac stent placement depends on the specific circumstances. If the procedure was performed via radial artery puncture, walking is generally allowed. However, if it involved femoral artery puncture, walking is usually not permitted immediately. Details are as follows:

1. Allowed to walk

Cardiac stenting, also known as coronary stent implantation, effectively relieves coronary artery narrowing, improves myocardial blood supply, and reduces the risk of death in patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. Stent placement is typically performed via either radial or femoral artery puncture. For patients who underwent radial artery puncture, postoperative mobility is generally unrestricted, although contact with the puncture site should be avoided.

2. Not allowed to walk

For patients who underwent femoral artery puncture, it is generally recommended to remain in bed for 24 hours before getting up to move around, and activity should not exceed 10 minutes initially. If the patient engages in moderate-intensity activities six weeks after surgery without experiencing significant discomfort, they may gradually resume normal physical activities.

During recovery, it is important to get adequate rest, avoid excessive fatigue, and refrain from strenuous exercise.