What if there is a complication after surgery abroad?

What counts as urgent?

Chest pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, a high fever, confusion, severe or rapidly worsening pain, or a swollen, painful or red leg need urgent medical attention. Call 112 in Turkey or 999 in the UK.

What counts as a concern to report?

Increasing redness, discharge from a wound, a wound opening, unusual swelling on one side, a drain that stops suddenly, or symptoms that do not match what you were told to expect should be reported to your surgeon the same day.

Who treats me at home?

In an emergency, UK emergency departments assess and treat people whatever the origin of the problem. For non-urgent concerns, a GP or NHS 111 can advise. Bringing your operation notes helps clinicians.

How can I prepare in advance?

Know the warning signs, keep the surgeon’s contact details, have your records and insurance details to hand and agree beforehand how corrective or follow-up treatment would be handled and paid for.

Complications after surgery in Turkey and Istanbul

Before booking surgery in Istanbul or elsewhere in Turkey, it is worth asking what happens if something goes wrong, including who pays for corrective treatment.

Questions worth asking about complications before surgery in Turkey:

• What would count as an emergency and who do I call?
• Would corrective surgery be offered, and on what terms?
• Who covers costs of treatment for a complication?
• Will you speak to a doctor at home about my operation if needed?