Most expensive medical procedures in the U.S., ranked

What if the approximately 11.4 million people insured through ACA suddenly lost their health coverage? Let’s do the math:

Without insurance, almost half of these expensive medical procedures cost more than the average American family’s average annual family income. And every process on this list costs at least four times more than the average US household savings.

Health data company Arcadia counted the numbers and these are the 50 most expensive medical procedures in the US, on average, ranked from lowest to highest.

50. Kidney transplantation

The average retail price for a kidney transplant in the United States is $ 46,760.

Cheyenne HanLee and Gavin Geragawa met on Tinder. A little over two years later, he saved her by donating one of his kidneys.

49. Intravascular operations on the skull, meninges and brain

These procedures treat aneurysms and arterial disorders inside the skull.

Prior to insurance, hospitals charge an average of $ 46,763.

48. Fusion of intestine with intestine

The average retail price of a bowel fusion surgery in the United States is $ 47,114.

47. Spinal cord surgery

Hospitals charge an average of $ 47,166 for spinal cord surgery, not including spinal fusion.

46. ​​Total removal of the spleen

The average price of a sticker for spleen removal is $ 47,860.

45. Cardiac catalysis

Doctors use radio waves to cauterize the arrhythmia-causing heart tissue.

Procedures like this cost an average of $ 47,895 before insurance.

44. Introduction of hepatic drainage

In this procedure, doctors insert a tube that allows blood to flow freely through the liver.

Hospitals charge an average of $ 47,939 for this surgery.

43. Replace or revise the branching of the brain

Brain drainage allows cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to drain safely from the skull, reducing excessive pressure on the brain.

The average price for a revision or replacement of a brain is $ 49,355.

42. Surgical treatment of cranial injury

Cranial lesions are any abnormal tissue in the skull – such as bone cysts or inflammatory bone tissue from a bacterial infection.

Surgical treatment for these lesions costs an average of $ 50,189 before insurance.

41. Skin graft

The average price for a skin graft in the United States is $ 51,170, before insurance.

Here, a Cambodian woman pulls on her scarf after the sutures of the skin graft have been removed. She fell victim to an acid attack that severely burned the tissue on her face.

40. Vascular embolism

Using a radiographic scan for guidance, a doctor inserts a catheter into the site of a damaged blood vessel and injects a coagulation agent to stop the bleeding.

These procedures cost an average of $ 51,351 before insurance.

39. Cranial escape

Surgery to install a cranial branch costs an average of $ 51,434, before insurance.

Zach Lederer was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was in sixth grade. After the surgery, a cranial drain was inserted to allow excess fluid to drain from his scalp. Years later, he was able to play football in high school.

38. Ileostomy

Ileostomy is a surgery that connects the small intestine to the abdominal wall to reroute digestive waste to an external ostomy system.

Procedures like this cost an average of $ 51,683.

37. Surgical removal of pelvic structures

In these surgeries, which are often performed to treat advanced cancers, doctors remove the reproductive organs, bladder or rectum or both, the pelvic lymph nodes and occasionally part of the colon.

Prior to insurance, this procedure costs an average of $ 51,888.

36. Remove pacemaker or defibrillator

Removing a pacemaker or defibrillator costs an average of $ 52,005.

35. Complex brain aneurysm repair

Hospitals charge an average of $ 52,041 for this emergency brain surgery.

34. Partial removal of the colon

Prior to insurance, the average price for this procedure is $ 52,353.

33. Endovascular repair of the abdominal aorta

The part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen is a vascular motorway that helps maintain the function of our kidneys, intestines and lower extremities.

Repairs to this crucial blood vessel cost an average of $ 53,776.

32. Gallbladder surgery

Gallbladder surgery costs an average of $ 54,041 before insurance.

One of the most common gallbladder surgeries is cholecystectomy. Doctors insert a camera and other equipment through a tiny incision in the abdomen to locate and remove the gallbladder.

31. Laparoscopic surgeries on the esophagus

A joint laparoscopic surgery helps treat persistent acid reflux. Nissen duplication strengthens the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.

Prior to insurance, these esophageal surgeries cost an average of $ 55,200.

30. Facial bone surgery

Facial bone surgery will cost you $ 55,986, on average.

29. Repair of blood vessels

Repairs to damaged blood vessels cost an average of $ 57,710 before insurance.

28. Installation of pacemaker or defibrillator

Getting a pacemaker or defibrillator costs $ 58,281 on average. More than 200,000 pacemakers are implanted in the United States each year.

That’s more than $ 11.6 billion in hospital bills before insurance.

27. Bone graft

NBA star Kevin Durant underwent one-leg bone graft surgery in 2015. Hospitals charge an average of $ 59,018 for these pre-insurance surgeries.

26. Intraoperative neuronal monitoring

This procedure takes place during other surgeries on the brain to monitor nerve function.

Intraoperative neuronal monitoring will add an average of $ 60,497 to your hospital bill before insurance.

25. Removal of heart damage

Removing abnormal heart tissue – such as those caused by a congenital disease – costs an average of $ 61,410.

24. Exploratory laparotomy

Sometimes doctors use surgery as a diagnostic tool. During these procedures, a patient’s abdomen opens and the organs are examined for illness or injury.

These surgeries cost an average of $ 61,957.

23. Craniotomy

In a craniotomy, the bone from the skull is temporarily removed to expose part of the brain.

Prior to insurance, hospitals charge an average of $ 66,935 for this procedure.

22. Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion costs an average of $ 67,826 before insurance.

21. Repair of the descending thoracic aorta

This graph shows a potentially lethal dilation of the descending thoracic aorta. Repairing damage to this large blood vessel is considered a life-saving process.

Surgery costs an average of $ 68,766, before insurance.

20. Vascular bypass graft

The vascular bypass graft redirects blood around damaged arteries by connecting healthy blood vessels.

These procedures cost an average of $ 70,846 before insurance.

Here, vascular surgery students practice bypass grafting on a human foot model.

19. Small bowel repair

Surgical repair of the small intestine costs an average of $ 72,757.

18. Breast reconstruction surgery

Hospitals charge an average of $ 73,100 for breast reconstruction surgery.

17. Mitral valve replacement

Hospitals charge an average of $ 73,154 to replace the mitral valve, a valve in …