Stent Card

[KJW66]

Hi, Does anyone know if a stent card is needed now. Cardio advice is no, but I have heard different. Any experience? Kev.

[Happyrosie]

I’m not sure what you mean by a stent card? Do you mean something to carry with you so that, if you have an accident, a paramedic would be aware?

If so, and you are on warfarin or clopidogrel, you might be issued with a card depending on your health authority.

[KJW66 in reply to Happyrosie]

I'm thinking more for going abroad for insurance, in emergencies?

[Happyrosie in reply to KJW66]

I think what you are saying is “I have a particular medical condition or I take a medication which a paramedic would need to know if I am ill/have an accident”. Is this what you mean?

Some smart phones have this facility - certainly Apple iPhones do.

[KJW66 in reply to Happyrosie]

I was told this was given out post op. Obviously from replies I was misinformed.

[Happyrosie in reply to KJW66]

Maybe your own hospital does this. Personally I have everything on my apple iPhone which is available without me having to unlock the phone. Yes it’s all on the NHS app but a practitioner could not open this without your password

[Weetabixie]

I had to carry a card for 3months but that was because of a complication from angioplasty and having to return for another angioplasty and pci. Otherwise it's just a card for certain blood thinner like warfarin or apixaban I think, I'm not totally sure. Ask your cardiologist or cardiac rehab maybe?Take care.

[MountainGoat52]

I made a laminated card for my wallet which gives my name, next of kin details, NHS number and hospital number details, brief medical history, medication, allergies/intolerances, etc.. It's credit card size and sits with my other cards, but as to whether in an emergency anyone would think to look for it is another thing.

When I had stents at the time of my heart attack, there was no mention of carrying information. I only decided to make something after the subject was raised on this forum so years ago.

[Blyth1]

I don’t have a stent card but I have a metal medic alert tag which I clip onto bag/ keyring. I also carry a card with printed medical details.

[Butcharts]

Hi Kev

After a Quad bypass about 7 years ago in the August, I was fortunate to spend the following winter in Austria to recuperate. Unfortunately, I became increasingly breathless, and on the advice of my GP, attended a local Austrian GP who immediately packed me off to hospital for further examination.

There, the cardiologist decided to perform an angiogram, and asked for further details of my Quad bypass. I didn’t have these to hand, so called my practice at home in Scotland for details. They said they would call me back asap. 40 minutes later they still hadn’t got back. By this time I was on a trolley with the angiography suite ready for me.

They found 3 of the 4 grafts had failed and decided to insert stents in my original arteries. I had two sessions of stent insertion over three days with a total of 7 stents put in place.

On discharge, I was given two credit card sized cards with details of their positions. Apparently that is standard practice there, and if adopted here, could save a lot of time and possibly reduce risk.

Obviously, other countries with different Health care arrangements won’t have access to our NHS records, and we as individuals, may not have awareness of the level of detail which could assist in further procedures being required.

I now always carry these “Stent cards” in my wallet. My treatment was covered completely by the EHIC (now GHIC) card as I was unable to obtain commercial travel insurance for an extended stay in Austria post CABG at that time. I had separate insurance for mountain rescue.

[KJW66 in reply to Butcharts]

Thanks Butcharts, great info. Cardio dept. advised me to also use any apps (NHS) for all info needed. 👍

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I don't have a card but on my android smart phone I have filled out all the details of my condition and listed all my meds, doses and also emergency contact numbers of my family. Char.

[KJW66 in reply to Thanksnhs]

Thanks Char, also all information is on the NHS app. 👍

[Thanksnhs in reply to KJW66]

Hi I live in Scotland and unfortunately we don't have an NHS app, I have never even heard that they are planning one for the future. We have to phone the GP for any info we need re records or test results and to order prescriptions it's a bit of a pain. Char