Pulmonary Endarterectomy Cost in Germany

The cost of pulmonary endarterectomy in Germany typically ranges from $7,000 to $25,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is surgery to clear old clot and scar tissue from the lung arteries in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). It is the same operation as pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. In Germany, the total depends on:

• Specialist centre: few centres perform this surgery.
• Assessment: scans and heart catheter tests.
• Critical care and stay: usually 10 to 14 days.
• Follow-up: with a pulmonary hypertension team.

See also the pulmonary thromboendarterectomy page, which describes the same operation. Total costs often exceed the range above.

Royal Papworth Hospital explains that in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), old clots in the lung arteries turn into scar tissue. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) removes this material and can be potentially curative, but only disease in the larger, nearer arteries can be reached surgically.

If surgery is not suitable, medicines or balloon treatment of the lung arteries may be considered instead.

The operation uses a heart-lung machine and cooling of the body to about 20°C, with short periods when the circulation is stopped, and takes 8 to 10 hours in theatre. More than 97% of patients survive and go home, usually within 2 weeks, after an average stay of 10 to 14 days.

The surgeon clears one lung at a time.

International patients are usually treated in Germany as self-paying patients: the hospital reviews the medical reports, sends a cost estimate and asks for an advance payment before admission, then settles the final bill after discharge.

Inpatient hospital care in Germany is billed under the German DRG system, which depends on the main diagnosis, other diagnoses and the procedures carried out, so the final amount is known only after the stay.

German missions ask applicants for a medical treatment visa for a letter from the treating hospital, a cost estimate and proof of an advance payment of at least 50% of the treatment cost.