Mother praises Limerick hospital after surgery in Turkey led to near-death complications

A MEELICK woman has detailed her near-death experience following a gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey and now advocates for people to avoid bariatric surgeries abroad.

On the latest episode of Upfront With Katie Hannon this Monday, Leanne O'Driscoll explained that in 2022, she opted for the surgery, and was only asked for her age, weight and height as part of the medical assessment for the procedure.

The complications after the procedure included severe bleeding in her spleen, resulting in sepsis and septic shock.

Leanne vividly described the critical situation, stating, "My family were called to say goodbye to me." Reflecting on the experience, she mentioned, "Looking back, I saved €10,000 by going to Turkey. That 10,000 I saved could have been used for my funeral. I was given 30 minutes to live."

Expressing gratitude, Leanne commended the professionals at University Hospital Limerick for saving her life. "Only for them, I wouldn't be here today," she acknowledged.

Previously reported by Limerick Live, the same procedure that Leanne underwent would have cost over €14,000 in Ireland. However, she and her friends paid only €2,400 for the operation in Turkey.

Read more: Mother admitted to University Hospital Limerick due to complications following gastric surgery abroad

Leanne revealed, "My blood pressure had dropped to 48 over 27, and my heart rate had gone up to 130. I had gone into septic shock, and they found a bleed in my spleen, which had been nicked during the surgery."

Leanne's story brought the alarming surge in complications following weight loss surgeries abroad to the forefront. Panelist, Professor Helen Heneghan, revealed that cases like Leanne's have become all too common, with an average occurrence of once or twice a week in their hospital.

Furthermore, she noted a threefold increase in such complications since March 2020, coinciding with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The surge in patients seeking weight loss surgery abroad during lockdowns raised concerns about the motivations behind this trend. 

Despite acknowledging improvements in Ireland's investment and efforts to address obesity, Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee emphasised persisting challenges. She stated that waiting lists for assessments and surgeries remain, prompting individuals to explore alternative options.

One such option she discussed on the show is the cross-border directive, which allows Irish citizens to undergo surgery in other EU countries.