5 Most Expensive Medical Treatments/Procedures in the US

In this piece, we will take a look at the 5 most expensive medical treatments/procedures in the US. For more treatments, head on over to the 15 most expensive medical treatments/procedures in the US.

5. Tracheostomy

Expected estimate cost: $102,399

In a tracheostomy, a surgical hole is created in the patient’s windpipe (trachea) which allows for breathing through an alternate airway. It is the first surgical procedure in our list to cost more than $100,000.

4. Decompressive craniotomy

Expected estimate cost: $112,984

Neurosurgical procedures are easily among the most expensive treatments in the U.S. and the world, and decompressive craniotomy refers to a procedure where part of the skull is removed so that a swelling brain can expand without being squeezed. A recent trial which involved Addenbrooke’s discovered that parts of the skull which are removed should be replaced during surgery instead of later.

3. Partial removal of the esophagus (esophagectomy)

Expected estimate cost: $113,756

Partial esophagus removal is one of the most expensive medical procedures in the entire country, where part of the esophagus along with the top part of your stomach and some lymph nodes are removed. It is the main procedure carried out in the treatment for esophageal cancer.

2. Aortic valve replacement

Expected estimate cost: $135,984

In an aortic valve replacement, the aortic valve is, unsurprisingly, removed and replaced with either a mechanical valve or an animal valve such as pig, cow or even human heart tissue. Medscape recently mentioned a new way of carrying this out, stating “Transcatheter aortic valve replacement with intracardiac echocardiography using a transjugular approach is feasible and safe”.

1. Exploratory chest surgery

Expected estimate cost: $137,533

Topping the list of the 15 most expensive treatments / procedures in the U.S. is exploratory chest surgery, which is more than twice the average median U.S. salary of $55,000. Thoracotomy is a surgical procedure where a cut can be made in the ribs to either see or reach various organs within a persons’ body, including lungs.

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