The most expensive medical procedures will make your eyes pop (figuratively). Hopefully they don’t give you a heart attack (literally), because as you’ll see, fixing your ticker is pricey. Nowadays, health costs have soared to impressive heights. While technology, researches, and advances in science have increased the efficiency and proficiency of the health care system, all of this progress has come at a cost. Medical procedures are increasingly more expensive, making it hard for someone without a sound insurance plan to afford them.
Following, we would like to present you wit list we have compiled of the top 7 most expensive medical procedures. Let’s take a look at the countdown of the most expensive medical procedures.
No. 7: Open Heart Surgery
Cost estimate: $325,000
Heart conditions that require open surgery are not uncommon, yet the price for the procedure is quite high. The $325,000 price tag is associated with not only the procedure in itself, but also with long recovery times, follow-up consultations, and medication.
No. 6: Liver Transplant
Cost estimate: $577,000
Though a lot more frequent than other types of transplants, a liver transplant remains a costly medical procedure. Hospital admission fees, post-procedure recovery, and medication can bring the cost of a liver transplant up to nearly $600,000.
No. 5: Bone Marrow Transplant
Cost estimate: $677,000 (from donor) and $300,000 (from the patient)
A bone marrow transplant is not a particularly extensive or complex procedure, as many times open surgery is not even required. Nonetheless, the cost associated with finding the perfect match is extremely high, as numerous laboratory tests and studies have to be performed.
No. 4: Lung Transplant
Cost estimate: $800,000 (both lungs) and $560,000 (one lung)
A lung transplant procedure is a risky surgical intervention because it is performed on a fragile, yet vital organ in the body. Machinery needed to sustain breathing, which is routinely used in the operating room, is quite expensive. In addition, patients are typically required to spend quite a long time in recovery, they usually have to work with a respiratory therapist, and have to purchase medication to fight off infection. All of these amounts to a very high total cost for a lung transplant.
No. 3: Heart Transplant
Cost estimate: $990,000
A heart transplant is one of the riskiest operations one could undergo, albeit it is sometimes the only way in which a patient can be saved. The huge costs associated with the procedure are related to the high-tech equipment surgeons need to sustain the patient. In addition, people who have just underwent a heart transplant are more likely to spend time in a intensive care unit than other patient, further rising the costs associated with this procedure.
No. 2: Heart-Lung Transplant
Cost estimate: $1.15 million
Replacing someone’s heart or lung are difficult procedures on their own. Just imagine how extensive a surgical intervention where both vital organs are transplanted must be. The overwhelming cost of undergoing such a procedure is related to hospital admission costs, laboratory tests, and follow-up consultations and rehabilitation.
No. 1: Intestine Transplant
Cost estimate: $1.2 million
The intestinal tract is the largest and longest internal organ of the body and a surgical intervention to replace it may last an entire day. High costs are associated with the difficulty of the procedure, the need to find a compatible donor, days spent in intensive care units, as well as post-operative recovery.
If you enjoyed our list of the most expensive medical procedures, check out our list of the eight most expensive dog breeds in the world.