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

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

Without insurance, nearly half of these costly medical procedures cost more than the average annual family income of Americans. And each procedure on this list costs at least four times as much as the average American household savings.

Healthcare data company Arcadia did the numbers, and these are the 50 most expensive medical procedures in the U.S., on average, ranked from lowest to highest.

50. Kidney transplant

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

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

49. Endovascular procedures in the skull, meninges and brain

These procedures treat aneurysms and disorders of the arteries inside the skull.

Before insurance, hospitals charge an average of $ 46,763.

48. Fusion from intestine to intestine

The average retail price of a gut-to-gut fusion operation in the United States is $ 47,114.

47. Spinal cord surgery

Hospitals charge an average of $ 47,166 for spinal cord surgeries, not including vertebral fusions.

46. ​​Total removal of the spleen

The average price of the spleen removal adhesive is $ 47,860.

45. Cardiac ablation

Doctors use radio waves to cauterize cardiac tissue that causes arrhythmia.

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

44. Insertion of the hepatic shunt

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 brain shunt

Cerebral bypass allows cerebrospinal fluid to drain from the skull safely, reducing excess pressure on the brain.

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

42. Surgical treatment of cranial injury

Cranial lesions are any type of abnormal tissue in the skull, such as bone cysts or bone tissue inflamed by a bacterial infection.

Surgical treatment of these injuries cost an average of $ 50,189, prior to insurance.

41. Skin graft

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

Here, a Cambodian woman pulls on her scarf after removing the skin graft points. He was the victim of an acid attack that severely burned his facial tissue.

40. Vascular embolization

Using a radiological scan as a guide, a doctor navigates a catheter to the site of a damaged blood vessel and injects a clotting agent to stop the bleeding.

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

39. Cranial shunt

Cranial bypass surgery costs an average of $ 51,434 before insurance.

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

38. Ileostomy

An ileostomy is a surgical procedure that connects the small intestine to the abdominal wall to redirect 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, the bladder or rectum, or both, the pelvic lymph nodes, and occasionally part of the colon.

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

36. Removing the pacemaker or defibrillator

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

35. Complex repair of cerebral aneurysm

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 highway that helps keep our kidneys, intestines, and lower extremities functioning.

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

32. Gallbladder surgery

Surgery to treat gallbladder problems 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 small incision in the abdomen to locate and remove the gallbladder.

31. Laparoscopic procedures in the esophagus

Common laparoscopic surgery helps treat stubborn acid reflux. Nissen fundoplication 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. Blood vessel repair

Damaged blood vessel repairs cost an average of $ 57,710, before insurance.

28. Insertion of a pacemaker or defibrillator

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

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

27. Bone grafting

NBA star Kevin Durant underwent bone graft surgery on one foot in 2015. Hospitals charge an average of $ 59,018 for these procedures, before insurance.

26. Intraoperative neuronal monitoring

This procedure takes place during other brain surgeries to monitor neuronal function.

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

25. Elimination of heart injuries

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

24. Exploratory laparotomy

Doctors sometimes use surgery as a diagnostic tool. During these procedures, the patient’s abdomen is opened and organs are examined for disease or injury.

These surgeries cost an average of $ 61,957.

23. Craniotomy

In a craniotomy, the skull bone 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 fusions cost an average of $ 67,826, before insurance.

21. Repair of the descending thoracic aorta

This graph shows a life-threatening dilation of the descending thoracic aorta. Repairing damage to this important blood vessel is considered a life-saving procedure.

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

20. Vascular bypass graft

Vascular bypass grafting redirects blood around damaged arteries connecting healthy blood vessels.

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

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

19. Repair of the small intestine

Surgical repairs to the small intestine cost 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 of the …