| Service | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 🇹🇷 Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endoscopic removal of a foreign body from the oesophagus | from USD 156 | from USD 3,500 | from USD 4,200 |
| Endoscopic removal of a foreign body from the stomach | from USD 156 | from USD 3,800 | from USD 4,500 |
Prices in the “Ukraine” column come from MediUkraine’s partner clinics. The Czech Republic and Turkey columns show the lower bounds of prices published by clinics there (for Turkey, also the Turkish Dental Association’s recommended 2026 tariff), collected in August 2026 and converted to US dollars at the rate on the day of collection. A dash means we could not find a comparable published price. In any country, the final cost is set by the clinic after an examination.
The procedure is used when the object will not pass naturally or threatens the wall of the organ with injury, bleeding or blockage. The endoscope is passed through the natural openings of the body to where the object is lodged: the doctor examines the mucosa around it, chooses an instrument to suit its shape and size and brings the object out the same way.
The main advantage of the method is that there are no incisions and minimal trauma to the mucosa. The doctor sees the camera image in real time, so the risk of bleeding or damage to the organ wall is lower than with open surgery. In most cases you go home on the same day, after a short period of observation.
The procedure takes 15 to 60 minutes and is done under local anaesthesia or brief general anaesthesia. If the object is in a hard-to-reach place, for example in the small intestine or the bronchi, additional instruments are used, or rigid endoscopes for the airways.
Endoscopic foreign body removal usually replaces open surgery, shortens recovery and reduces the likelihood of complications. Your next step is a consultation with an endoscopist with the results of an X-ray or CT scan that show exactly where the object is.
Travel. Ukrainian airspace is closed, so there are no commercial flights. Uzhhorod lies right on the border with Slovakia and close to Hungary, so patients usually arrive overland from one of these two countries, by car, bus or train.
Visas. Citizens of the EU, the United Kingdom and the United States do not need a visa for short stays in Ukraine. Rules depend on your citizenship, so check your own before booking.
Safety, plainly. Ukraine is at war. Air raid alerts occur across the country, including in Uzhhorod, and an appointment can be interrupted by one. Several governments advise against travel to Ukraine, and while that advice stands, ordinary travel and medical insurance is often void — confirm your cover with your insurer before you commit to anything.
Language. MediUkraine handles correspondence, scheduling, the written treatment plan and the quote in English. The clinic's team communicates with international patients in English.
Payment. You pay the clinic directly. Our coordination service is free of charge for you.
More on travel, safety and insurance: Safety and travel.
The method is chosen individually, according to the object's location, size, material, shape and the potential threat to the tissues. With modern endoscopic equipment, an object can be removed from the digestive tract, the airways or the urinary system without incisions or unnecessary tissue trauma.
Flexible endoscopy is used most often: an endoscope with a camera and forceps or a snare for grasping the object is inserted through the mouth or nose. This is done when the object is stuck in the oesophagus, stomach or duodenum. The procedure is performed under local or brief general anaesthesia and does not require a hospital stay.
When the object has sharp edges, is too large or is stuck in the large intestine or the bronchi, rigid endoscopy is used. It gives more precise control and helps protect the mucosa. If needed, the doctor uses additional instruments to carefully break up or reposition the object before removal.
If there is a risk of perforation or suspected bleeding, the procedure is performed in hospital, with a surgeon and an anaesthetist on the team. This makes it possible to act quickly, with a lower risk of complications and a short recovery period.
Immediately after the object is removed you remain under observation so the doctor can assess the mucosa and rule out complications. In the first hours mild discomfort in the throat, chest or abdomen is possible; this is a normal reaction to the procedure. If the object was removed from the digestive tract, a gentle diet and observation are prescribed for a few days.
Most people return to their normal routine within 1–2 days, but avoid physical overload and hot baths for the first three days. If needed, the doctor prescribes medicines to help the mucosa heal or painkillers. If you had general anaesthesia, do not drive on the day of the procedure.
The length of recovery depends on where the foreign body was, its size and your condition. After endoscopic access the mucosa heals quickly, so most people are back to their normal routine the next day.
After discharge, follow the instructions: drink enough water and avoid spicy food, alcohol and smoking. If you develop pain, nausea, a fever or notice bloody discharge, contact the clinic immediately for an examination.
The method is valuable not only because it removes the threat but also because it preserves the function of the organ without open access. It is used when an object ends up in the oesophagus, stomach, airways or urinary system. The precision of the optics and instruments allows the doctor to retrieve the object without injuring the mucosa.
The technique is matched to the specific case: the size and material of the object, where it is lodged and your condition are taken into account. Before the procedure an endoscopic examination is done to clarify the location and choose the least traumatic access. In most cases a flexible endoscope with grasping instruments is enough; in more complex situations rigid endoscopes are used or approaches are combined.
If the episodes recur, the doctor orders additional diagnostics: they show whether there is an oesophageal motility disorder, a narrowing of the passage or another cause that contributed to the incident. Careful preparation and monitoring after the procedure make the result predictable.
When planning endoscopic foreign body removal, count not only the price of the procedure itself but also consultations, tests, anaesthesia, monitoring afterwards and accommodation. In Ukraine the total is lower because all stages, from diagnostics to recovery, usually take place at one centre, and the hospital stay lasts a few hours or one day.
Why are prices lower? Firstly, the underlying cost of medical services, such as a bed-day, consumables, rent and staff salaries, is considerably lower in Ukraine than in EU countries or Turkey. Secondly, competition between private clinics brings transparent package offers without hidden charges to the market. Thirdly, minimally invasive access shortens the hospital stay, which is directly reflected in the bill.
At the same time, the standard of care does not suffer: the partner clinic provides anaesthetic support, infection control and monitoring after the procedure. Endoscopists perform such procedures regularly, in the oesophagus, stomach, airways and urinary system, and the low complication rate rests on this experience and on following the protocol.
The procedure is considered low-risk when performed by an experienced team. The partner clinic in Uzhhorod works according to European protocols: anaesthetic support, sterility, infection control and monitoring after the procedure. Foreign body removal is routine work there, with modern video equipment that shows the doctor the field in detail, which helps keep neighbouring tissues intact. The doctor will explain the possible risks in your case beforehand.
Ideally, diagnostics and treatment take place in one place, with specialist endoscopists. Such procedures are quick and do not need a long hospital stay.
When choosing a clinic, look at the doctor's experience, the number of procedures performed, adherence to international protocols and cost transparency. MediUkraine assesses the partner clinic on real patient requests, verified reviews, speed of communication and a professional approach.
📍 Uzhhorod, Ukraine
A multidisciplinary hospital in Uzhhorod, part of a network of medical facilities in western Ukraine: an outpatient clinic, a surgical centre covering 15 specialties and a 30-bed inpatient unit. Its 52 doctors include professors and PhDs; many operations are done as day surgery, with discharge after 1–2 days.
It is a minimally invasive procedure in which the doctor uses a flexible endoscope to retrieve foreign objects from the oesophagus, stomach, airways or urinary system through the natural openings of the body, without incisions or tissue injury.
The price depends on where the object is, the type of anaesthesia and the complexity of the procedure. In Ukraine it is lower than in EU countries or Turkey, mainly because of the lower cost of medical services and the short hospital stay.
Citizens of most European countries do not need a visa for a short trip for medical purposes. MediUkraine can help you plan the trip, and the clinic's team communicates with international patients in English.
The procedure is suitable for most patients if the object is within reach of the endoscope. The doctor makes the final decision after diagnostics: an X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan.
Depending on the situation, flexible or rigid endoscopes, forceps, snares or magnetic attachments are used. In complex cases endoscopic and surgical approaches are combined.
You usually return to normal activity within 1–2 days. For uncomplicated procedures no hospital stay is needed, and follow-up is done on an outpatient basis.
It is considered low-risk. At the partner clinic in Uzhhorod endoscopic foreign body removal is performed according to international standards, under an anaesthetist's supervision, with strict sterility and monitoring after the procedure. As with any procedure, the doctor will explain the possible risks in your case.
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