Baltimore County Hospital, St Josephs’ Sending Letters Regarding Coronary Artery Stents

  St Josephs has begun notifying certain patients that they may have had a procedure to implant a stent that was not medically necessary.  Such an unnecessary procedure can expose patients to stent problems which could lead to an increased risk of potentially deadly blood clots.  Additionally, it is still unknown what effect this may have on a patients present and future right to expect health insurance carriers to pay for future treatment.  

   Stents are small wire devices which are designed to be inserted into blocked arteries to prop them open and keep blood flowing.  Since last fall, a lot of national attention has been focused on the widespread overuse of drug eluting stents. Research indicates that the devices carry a statistically significant increased risk of blood clots, which could lead to a re-blockage of the artery, a heart attack or death.  

The heart stent problems could occur days, months or even years after the stents are placed. Experts have estimated that approximately 2,000 deaths each year could have been caused by the use of drug eluting stents, and most cardiologists are now ensuring that the devices are only implanted into patient who meet the FDA approved profile.

 Since drug coated stents were intreoduced in 2003, they have quickly grown to account for approximately 90% of all stents placed in the United States. Some reports indicate that as few as 20% of all patients who received the devices met the approved profile. As a result of the wide spread overuse and concerns about stent risks, an FDA advisory panel recently stressed the importance that physicians only place the devices in patients who meet the published stent recommendations.  

The actions by St. Josephs hospital of notifying patients is being lauded by many. However, this notice is insufficient.  Patients need to know where they really were in the guideline for stent placement.  The American College of Cardiology recommends that patients that have a blockage of at least 70% are candidates for a stent. However, patients as low as 10% were having stents implanted.  This has exposed them to unnecessary risk of stent problems, increased risk of blood clots, and the use of Plavix for an extended period of time.  

 Hospitals, cardiologists and stent placement specialists have a financial incentive to recommend the use of medicated stents for treatment of partially blocked arteries instead of alternative therapies, such as medications.    Stents account for approximately $6 billion in sales each year, and hospitals charge around $10,000 to $15,000 per patient to implant them.  

  If you or someone you know has had a stent implanted by Dr. Mark Midei at St. Josephs’ hospital and have received a letter from the hospital or you have been contacted about it by your doctor, please call our offices at 410-583-6969 for important information about your health, your health insurance and your legal rights.