Gastrectomy in Turkey: what it is and when it is needed
A gastrectomy is an operation that removes part of the stomach or all of it. The most common reason is stomach (gastric) cancer. It is also used for some non-cancerous problems such as large ulcers that do not heal, bleeding or a perforation, and for some tumours of the stomach wall. A different operation with a similar name, sleeve gastrectomy, is a weight-loss operation; it is covered on our gastric sleeve page and not here.
On our site gastrectomy in Turkey starts at €1,840 at an accredited hospital. This is the lowest list price on the page; the price of a gastrectomy depends heavily on how much of the stomach is removed, the approach and the length of the stay, so read it as a starting point and ask for a written quote for your own case. If you have cancer, a diagnosis and a plan from your own team come first: this page cannot replace that advice, and the decision to travel should be made with your oncologist.
See also the gastroenterology hub and the page on stomach and oesophagus surgery.
Total, partial and other types of gastrectomy
| Type | What is removed | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Total gastrectomy | The whole stomach; the oesophagus is joined to the small intestine | Cancer in the upper or middle stomach or spread throughout it |
| Partial (subtotal or distal) gastrectomy | The lower part of the stomach, sometimes with the nearby lymph nodes | Cancer in the lower stomach; some ulcers |
| Proximal gastrectomy | The upper part of the stomach | Selected early tumours near the oesophagus |
| Wedge or sleeve resection | A small piece or a vertical strip | Small stromal tumours (wedge); weight loss (sleeve), a different operation |
| Oesophagogastrectomy | The lower oesophagus and upper stomach | Cancer at the junction of oesophagus and stomach |
In cancer surgery the surgeon also removes the lymph nodes around the stomach, a step called lymphadenectomy; how extensive it is has an effect on staging and is a point to ask about.
Open, laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy
- Open gastrectomy: one larger incision in the upper abdomen; used for large or complex tumours.
- Laparoscopic gastrectomy: several small incisions and a camera; shorter hospital stay and less pain. Large randomised trials from Korea and China (KLASS and CLASS) found laparoscopic surgery comparable to open surgery for suitable stomach cancers when done by experienced teams.
- Robotic gastrectomy: a surgeon-controlled robot with a three-dimensional view; the cancer outcome is not shown to be better than laparoscopic surgery, but it can help in a difficult area. It usually costs more.
The right approach depends on the position and stage of the tumour, your general health and the surgeon's experience, and not on the technology.
Gastrectomy cost in Turkey compared with the UK, the US and Germany
The figures below are approximate private prices for the operation with the hospital stay. They vary widely with the type of gastrectomy, the approach and complications, and must be confirmed in a written quote. In the UK, the US and Germany, gastrectomy for cancer is normally paid for by the NHS or insurance, so the table matters mainly to patients without cover or who wish to be treated privately.
| Country | Typical private price (approximate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | from €1,840 | Starting list price; type and stay change it |
| United Kingdom | about £15,000–£30,000 | Free on the NHS for cancer |
| United States | about $30,000–$80,000 or more | Hospital, surgeon and anaesthesia are billed separately |
| Germany | covered by statutory insurance | Self-pay prices vary widely |
The price rises with total gastrectomy, an extended lymph node dissection, robotic equipment, intensive-care days, blood products and a long stay. Ask whether tests, pathology, the intensive-care unit and the check-up before travel are included, and who pays if a complication needs a second operation.
Before gastrectomy: diagnosis, staging and planning
A gastrectomy for cancer is planned after an endoscopy with a biopsy, a CT scan and often an endoscopic ultrasound, and the case is discussed by a team of surgeons, oncologists and radiologists. For many stomach cancers that have grown beyond the inner layers, European guidance recommends chemotherapy before and after surgery, which means treatment is split across weeks and months. If you plan to travel, bring your biopsy report, scans and a summary from your oncologist; the hospital will re-read them and may repeat tests. Ask who will give any chemotherapy before or after surgery, and where, because it is not usually done within a short stay.
Gastrectomy hospital stay and trip planning
- Before surgery: 2 to 3 days for tests, anaesthesia assessment and the surgical plan.
- In hospital: usually 6 to 10 days, longer if there is a complication, with some days in intensive care in total gastrectomy.
- After discharge: staying in the city for several more days for a check-up, removal of drains and stitches, and the pathology report, so plan about 2 to 3 weeks in all.
- Flying home: only when the surgeon agrees; long flights after abdominal surgery raise the risk of blood clots, so a companion and stockings or injections as advised are important.
A companion is strongly advised. See how it works for how the quote and arrival are arranged, and the hospitals offering gastroenterology care.
Gastrectomy recovery and life after surgery
Gastrectomy recovery is gradual. Feeding starts with sips and liquids after a few days, and then soft food. Most people go back to light daily activity in 4 to 6 weeks and heavier work after about 2 to 3 months, depending on the operation and any chemotherapy.
- Eating: small, frequent meals (six or more a day), eaten slowly, because the remaining stomach or the joined intestine holds little. A dietitian should guide this.
- Weight loss: common after total gastrectomy, with a risk of malnutrition that needs follow-up.
- Dumping syndrome: sweating, a racing heart, cramps or diarrhoea after eating, because food passes into the intestine too quickly; it usually improves with diet changes.
- Vitamin B12 and iron: after total gastrectomy, vitamin B12 needs lifelong injections, because the stomach makes the factor needed to absorb it; iron, calcium and vitamin D are also checked.
Risks of gastrectomy and what the sources say
Gastrectomy is major surgery. The risks include bleeding, infection, blood clots, a leak from the join between the oesophagus or stomach and the intestine (anastomotic leak), narrowing at the join, chest and wound problems, and the nutritional changes above. The risk of serious complications is higher with total gastrectomy, with older age and heart or lung disease, and in hospitals that perform few of these operations; studies from Europe and Asia link higher volumes of gastric cancer surgery with better outcomes. We do not quote a figure, because it differs between series and between patients: ask your surgeon about their own complication rate.
Choose a hospital with an intensive-care unit and a gastrointestinal oncology team, make sure there is a written plan for any further treatment, and keep your records so that your own doctors can continue care.
How to choose a hospital for gastrectomy
- A team, not only a surgeon: surgery, medical oncology, pathology and nutrition working together.
- Volume and results: ask how many gastrectomies the surgeon and hospital perform each year.
- Complications and continuing care: what is covered, and who coordinates when you return home.
- Red flags: a price given without your scans, no talk of risks and pressure to decide quickly.
The hospitals on this page show their own prices and doctors; for the other hospitals see Academic Hospital and Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital. Standard travel insurance does not cover planned surgery abroad.
Hospitals with Gastroenterology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
A gastrectomy is an operation that removes part of the stomach (partial) or all of it (total). It is most often done for stomach cancer, and sometimes for ulcers, bleeding or tumours of the stomach wall.
At the accredited hospitals on our site gastrectomy starts at about €1,850 (shown in your currency on this page). The final price depends on the type of operation, the approach and the length of stay, so the written quote is what counts.
In total gastrectomy the whole stomach is removed and the oesophagus is joined to the small intestine. In partial gastrectomy the lower or upper part is removed. The choice depends on where the tumour is.
Hospital stay is usually 6 to 10 days. Most people return to light activity in 4 to 6 weeks and to heavier work after 2 to 3 months, depending on the operation and any chemotherapy.
Plan about 2 to 3 weeks: tests before surgery, 6 to 10 days in hospital and a few days afterwards for the check-up and pathology report. The surgeon decides when you may fly.
For suitable stomach cancers, large trials found laparoscopic surgery comparable to open surgery in experienced hands, with less pain and a shorter stay. Robotic surgery has not shown better cancer results. The tumour's position and stage decide.
You eat small, frequent meals and avoid large amounts at once. Some people have dumping syndrome or weight loss; a dietitian helps. After total gastrectomy vitamin B12 is given by injection for life.
Bleeding, infection, clots, a leak or narrowing at the join, chest problems, dumping syndrome and malnutrition. The risk is higher with total gastrectomy, older age and other illness.
No. Sleeve gastrectomy removes about three quarters of the stomach for weight loss in people with obesity. See our gastric sleeve page for it.
For many stomach cancers beyond the earliest stage chemotherapy is given before and after surgery. Ask your oncologist where it will be given if you travel for the operation.