Saturday, November 11, 2017

EXOSEAL® Vascular Closure Device

Still resting easy so I don't pop the plug.  Will be interesting to see how much my insurance company gets billed for this.  I bought a titanium tibial nail just like the one they fixed my leg with for fifty bucks on ebay...my insurance company got billed $9,000 for the one in my leg. 70,83,49,0,C

12 comments:

Unknown said...

John, is this something you still have "installed" or something the used in the hospital? I don't recall mention of any such thing during my procedure.

Marlin Andrus said...

I'm sure you probably know this but the insurance will pay only a fraction of what the are billed. For example, while I was having chemo in 2006, I had weekly blood test that where billed as over $400.00. The insurance company paid $20.00.
But I get what your pointing out.

John Wells said...

The closure device installs a collagen "plug" that remains inside of me and is eventually absorbed by tissue. The arterial closure procedure was approved by the FDA in 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM5PaVMC_po

Unknown said...

If they gave me a "plug" they didn't tell me. Actually I haven't been given much info at all as to what was done. I'm hoping the follow up visit with the cardiologist will have a Q&A session. Also hope to get a CD of both the initial stress test and the angiogram. So far it looks like the initial chemical stress test cost about $5,000. That was for a couple hours as an outpatient. I imagine the bill for the angiogram will be a real doozy!

Margery Billd said...

Must follow doctors orders. I did not know there was so much involved.

John Wells said...

Sam...they warned me about "popping my plug" several times right after the angiogram and also included a brochure about the closure device in my discharge paperwork. My stress test cost six grand and I should be getting an email from my insurance company in about a week as for the cost of the angiogram. I've already put in my request for a CD of images from both procedures. My follow up with the cardiologist is in 10 days.

Unknown said...

John, apparently I didn't get a "plug" since it wasn't mentioned and I didn't get any info on it. Pressure was applied to the site where the catheter entered for 20 minutes after the procedure and I was told this was to make sure the "clot" would hold. Then they put a sand bag on the site for about two more hours to maintain some pressure. I was told to keep an eye out for lumps and/or bleeding, not to lift over 10 pounds and take it easy for two days. Maybe I got the "old style" angiogram? Or the fast version ... they said they did 40 a day at the hospital.

John Wells said...

yup...sounds like you got the old school closure technique. My angiogram lasted all of 30 minutes. They only applied pressure to my site for two minutes and no sand bag. Then I had to lay still in recovery for 3 hours. I was first of many that day too. I had to show up at the hospital at 5:30 AM. They brought me a breakfast tray right after the procedure and I got a lunch tray right before they discharged me at 1 PM. I kept my lovely hospital gown (as long as it was already paid for). When I changed the bandage the next day there was just a tiny drop of blood on it and no bruising. I got a ride back to my hotel and laid low for 24 hours then drove home the following afternoon.

96Trees said...

When I had my splints put in a few years ago, they offered to do them for half price. I could of put it on my credit card and earned some points too! Yea there is something wrong with the health insurance business.

Unknown said...

I think my angiogram took over an hour. They went through my wrist first but decided to go through the groin too ... to get the big picture I guess. I had to lay still for three hours also, but they kept me overnight. They put a band aid on my wrist site but nothing on the groin. I didn't have any leakage or pain at either site but you could see the puncture point on both for a few days. Very little sleep in the hospital over night. Something always going on. The guy in the bed next to me dropped his urinal on the tile floor about 2:00 AM.

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