There might be many more Irish people who have died after surgery abroad than the Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of, an expert in the field has warned.

Weight loss surgery in Ireland, for example, can cost up to €11,000 and waiting lists are long.

Many people opt for surgery abroad where prices are lower but Auralia Medical Group’s Head of Bariatric Unit David Keogh warned the risk is also significantly higher.

“We know with certainty from the Department of Foreign Affairs, in the last 12 months, three young women have died from surgery abroad, having gone for gastric sleeve surgery in particular in Turkey,” Dr Keogh told The Pat Kenny Show. 

“If you mix everything in together, dentistry, cosmetics and bariatrics, that number rises to eight over the past year.

“Interestingly, the Department of Foreign Affairs have come out and said they believe that number to be much higher because not every incident is reported to them.”

In Turkey, the price of bariatric surgery can be as low as €4,000 - with flights and hotels included.

Dr Keogh said he can “understand why patients consider going abroad” but stressed the quality of care is superior at home.

“[That would include] the full aftercare programme of all of your dietician appointments, psychological assessments and, most importantly, insurance,” he said.

“This is not a case of ‘if something goes wrong’, this is a case of ‘when something goes wrong’.

“These are high-risk procedures; they are marketed as very straightforward procedures but they’re not.

“You’re dealing with patients with severe medical conditions; when a patient goes abroad, they absolutely get the procedures - that’s generally not the issue.

“It’s when they come home that a small number of patients run into issues.

“Nowadays, we’re getting five to eight enquiries a week from patients who have gone abroad.”

Some of the issues may be “simple” - such as needing guidance about their diet or they might have some psychological issues.

Others, however, are far more serious.

“The more concerning side of it is, we get a call on Monday morning and it’s, ‘Hi guys, I had gastric sleeve surgery abroad five days ago and I’ve just passed blood in my stools’ or ‘I’m vomiting up blood,’” he said.

That can be the body getting rid of blood left in the stomach during the days - but it can also be a sign of a gastric leak.

“That’s a severe complication after these surgeries that if you don’t resolve in a very short space of time, there is no two ways about it, that patient will pass away.

“They will not survive it.”

'I was dying'

Earlier this year, Lunchtime Live spoke to Leanne who said her operation in Turkey left her with internal bleeding that nearly killed her.

In the end, doctors managed to save her life by removing her spleen but Leanne has long-term health complications because of it.

Main image: An operation taking place.