Stretta Procedure Cost
Common treatments for GERD often include lifestyle changes, prescribed medications or even surgery. However, in some cases, none of these options work for some.
The Stretta procedure, another treatment option to help those suffering from GERD, is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure which takes up to an hour to perform in an outpatient setting.
How much does the Stretta procedure cost?
The cost of the Stretta procedure will depend on the doctor you choose, where you have your surgery, your health insurance policy, geographical region and the facility’s billing policy.
From the quotes we gathered online, it appeared that the cost of a Stretta procedure, without any health insurance coverage, was in the $4,500 to $6,000 range.
According to one forum member on this HealingWell.com forum thread, for instance, he was quoted $6,000 and his insurance company would not cover it. Via another HealingWell.com forum thread, another member stated he paid $4,500 and his insurance also did not cover it.
Preparing for the procedure
Prior to the procedure, your doctor will ask you do a variety of tasks, including:
Avoiding any food after midnight prior to the day of the procedure.
On the day of the procedure, you will only be asked to drink liquids only.
You should be able to take your normal medications, with the exception of any diabetic medications. Make sure your doctor knows about all of the medication you’re taking to let you know if you can or cannot take it. You will also be asked to bring in your medications the day of your procedure.
Wear comfortable clothing to the surgery and arrange a ride home as you will be under a general anesthesia and will be forbidden to drive home.
The Stretta procedure
The Stretta procedure, commonly performed in an outpatient setting or hospital, should not take longer than 60 minutes for the average patient.
During the procedure, while sedated with anesthesia, your doctor will insert a tube down your throat to reach the muscles that connect the throat to the stomach. This tube, essentially, will send radio waves to the tissue where the esophagus connects to the stomach, and according to Dr. Mark Noar on Beckersasc.com, it is essentially a low powered, low temperature, RF electrical stimulation. During this time, water is also released to help prevent any heat injuries which may have been caused during the insertion.
After the radio waves are applied, the tubing is slowly removed and you will awake from the anesthesia.
Once home, most patients are able to resume activities 24 hours after the procedure; however, doctors will advise you that you relax as much as possible once discharged.
Risks
According to a medical study found online, risks are rare, however, they do exist, including food remaining the stomach too long, irritation from the tube, an injury to the throat due to the tubing, an adverse reaction to the anesthesia and/or gas or bloating. This particular study noted 29 out of the 15,000 patients who underwent this procedure experienced these symptoms.
Tips to know
Healthline.com notes that a good candidate for this procedure will be for those who either had surgery or medication and did not work according to plan. This can also be an option for those who want medication or surgery, but your doctor feels these options are not a great choice, either. As the procedure does involve a tube going to down your throat, it will always be recommended for anyone without any throat obstructions.
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