Stents

[Sensei_Mark]

Hi, can anyone tell me if stents are pretty much a 'standard' size, pr if the vary greatly?

[Dovaston]

I have 5 and none of those were the same size

[Sensei_Mark in reply to Dovaston]

Oh dear, sorry to hear that. I hope they are helping.

I asked because one cardiologist said that if they have the right size stent available, the treatment would be free (on my insurance), but if they don't have the right size, it/they would cost me the equivalent of £2000 each (+ hospital costs).

[Dovaston]

Yes I am good thanks. You mention insurance are you in USA or UK ?

[Sensei_Mark in reply to Dovaston]

I'm a Brit, but currently living in Romania.

[Dovaston in reply to Sensei_Mark]

Ah I see. I am not sure about the potential price quoted sounds mighty expensive. 😳If you are a Brit then surely NHS is a better option .

[Sensei_Mark in reply to Dovaston]

Yes, but redundancy due to coronvirus has made that financially impossible.

[Dovaston in reply to Sensei_Mark]

I am so sorry to hear that. I hope things soon get sorted for you health and job wise

[Sensei_Mark in reply to Dovaston]

Thank you!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Sensei_Mark]

Roumania joined the EU on 1st January 2007. Does the EHIC card not cover you?

[Sensei_Mark in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks for the advice, but no. EHIC cards are rarely accepted anywhere now.

[HectorsDad]

As was explained to me in mid procedure as a distraction🤪, so I may not remember exactly. Stents can vary in diameter and length. Diameter largely depends on the type, compressed size and which artery is being propped open; it also depends how big a tube they are sliding it down. Length is typically 12–20mm, and the maximum is normally 48mm, although you can join two together.

I’ve got four totalling around 120mm (which is a lot). These are drug-eluting stents, coated in stuff which help and protect the artery.

[Sensei_Mark in reply to HectorsDad]

Thanks for the info. It helps tremendously.

I asked because I didn't know if it was their way of getting more money out of me, because I don't know any different. To tell me that I needed something they didn't have, when I didn't really need it.

[HectorsDad in reply to Sensei_Mark]

Well, unusual always costs more- but it should be a clinical decision. I also had a ‘POBA’. Plain Old (or Ordinary) Balloon Angioplasty. On a later checking angiogram, I asked about that. Apparently the one I had was neither plan nor ordinary, very posh (and expensive) drug eluting balloon procedure that got a chin scratching ‘we don’t see many of them in here’ comment from the doctor which sounded more like I’d taken something dodgy in to my local garage😄

[Sensei_Mark in reply to HectorsDad]

😂😂

[Ianc2]

EHIC card should be accepted in larger hospitals?