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There are a number of factors that influence the price of a medical procedure. One of them is how complex it is.
Procedures that require specialized medical equipment, including machines and surgical instruments, tend to be more expensive overall.
Some hospital facilities are superior to others, and as such charge more for procedures. The actual location of the hospital also contributes to the cost (i.e. a hospital in NYC will be more expensive than a hospital elsewhere in the country). Now, let’s take a look at the most expensive medical procedures.
Some surgical procedures require specialized surgeons and other medical staff. Such procedures are more expensive due to the expertise of the people performing them.
A transplant is the last resort for many heart conditions that cannot be managed through other means. A heart transplant team consists of a number of medical professionals, from cardiovascular surgeons to electrophysiologists, among others.
The process is rather laborious, with a range of eligibility criteria that need to be met before a patient can even be considered. The assessment, the surgery, and the recovery combined make it a very expensive process. A heart transplant costs on average $1.3 million.
Replacing a liver is a complex and expensive surgical intervention. A patient with a diseased or damaged liver can have a healthy organ transplanted from either a living or deceased donor.
The procedure involves the work of a team of medical professionals, from hepatologists to transplant surgeons and nurses, to name a few. A liver transplant costs an approximate $1.2 million.
Like other transplants, this procedure is complex and used as a last resort when other treatments fail. The team may include oncologists, hematologists, and immunologists, among others. A bone marrow transplant will set a patient back around $950,000.
A bone marrow transplant is one of the most expensive medical procedures in the US. Also known as a stem cell transplant, this procedure is performed in the treatment of a number of blood and lymphatic system conditions, including cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Waiting lists are long and transplants can only be made from deceased people. Things such as blood type and lung size must match, making it even more difficult to find a suitable donor. This procedure can cost around $850,000.
Replacing both lungs is a delicate procedure that involves a great deal of expertise and resources, including a number of pulmonologists with different specializations.
Replacing the small intestine is a complex procedure, but this is often the only option for patients with intestinal failure.
Transplant surgeons and gastroenterologists are among the members of the team responsible for making this procedure work successfully. As for the cost, patients can expect a bill of around $750,000.
A pancreas transplant is a game-changer for patients with type 1 diabetes. The procedure is anything but simple, and a matching pancreas must be found, so waiting lists are long.
Patients must be healthy enough to receive a transplant, but for those without a pancreas capable of producing insulin, it’s a life-changing procedure. It’s an expensive one too, at around $600,000.
Patients can have the organ(s) donated by either a living or deceased individual. A kidney transplant can cost approximately $500,000.
Kidneys fail, and when they do, they no longer do their job. The only option in such cases is a kidney transplant. Despite the complexity, it’s one of the most popular types of transplants.
Unlike other procedures on this list, this is a pre-diagnostic surgery that can be used to detect certain conditions. It’s also used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The price tag? Over $137,500.
Aortic valve replacement is a type of open-heart surgery performed to repair a malfunctioning heart valve. The aortic valve manages the blood flow from the heart to the body. Such a procedure can cost nearly $136,000.
A partial removal of the esophagus is often performed to remove tumors and treat esophageal cancer. This is also a very expensive procedure that costs over $113,700.
This surgery is performed to relieve pressure in the skull. Stroke or a traumatic brain injury may require a decompressive craniotomy. As for the price of this procedure, it’s just over $112,900.
A tracheostomy involves opening the trachea (at the front of the neck) to insert a tube for the patient to breathe through. It costs around $102,400.
This surgery is performed to repair the aorta. A graft (a synthetic tube) is inserted during surgery. The cost sits at almost $93,000.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, involves placing a replacement valve in the heart using a catheter. This is an expensive procedure and costs around $85,279.
This exam is used to diagnose epilepsy and rule out other conditions. Electrodes track brain waves while video records the patient's behavior and movements. This procedure can cost over $77,600.
In this procedure, a mesh metal tube, called a stent, is placed into the blocked artery, allowing blood to flow to the brain. At over $77,500, it’s also a very expensive surgery.
This surgery reroutes blood around a blocked or narrowed coronary artery. It costs over $77,000.
This surgery is performed to treat a number of conditions, including deformities and injuries such as herniated disks. This lower back surgery can cost over $75,300.
This procedure involves the repair of the mitral valve of the heart. The expensive surgery can set a patient back over $74,100.
Sources: (U.S. News) (Resolve Medical Bills) (University of Southern California) (PeopleKeep).
See also: The world's best hospitals
The US spends the most on medication and healthcare in general among developed countries. Even though it's an industry dominated by health insurances, the cost of some medical procedures is prohibitive. Some of these procedures are extremely complex and require highly specialized medical staff and technology.
In this gallery, you'll get to know what the most expensive surgeries are. Click on.
All amounts are in USD.
The most expensive medical procedures in the US
Some surgeries cost over a million dollars
HEALTH Healthcare
The US spends the most on medication and healthcare in general among developed countries. Even though it's an industry dominated by health insurances, the cost of some medical procedures is prohibitive. Some of these procedures are extremely complex and require highly specialized medical staff and technology.
In this gallery, you'll get to know what the most expensive surgeries are. Click on.
All amounts are in USD.