Aim: In the modern era, a substantial proportion of individuals live abroad for various reasons. Accessing healthcare systems in foreign countries can pose significant challenges due to obstacles such as language barriers, unfamiliarity with the healthcare framework, and a lack of confidence in obtaining modern and appropriate medical treatment. To shed light on this critical issue, we analyzed the outcomes of 298 foreign patients treated at our institution.

Methods: This study included patients with foreign identification numbers who underwent emergency surgery at the Department of General Surgery, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, between January 2012 and June 2023. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their admission dates (before and after 2019). Data collection and evaluation focused on demographics (age, ethnicity), length of hospital stay (LoHS), surgical procedures, perioperative complications, and mortality rates.

Results: The overall mean LoHS was 2 days (range: 1-28), with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). Emergent appendectomy was performed in 185 patients (62.1%), while 20 patients (6.7%) underwent cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic surgery rates for appendicitis cases were significantly higher in Group 2 (p<0.05); however, no significant differences were observed in cholecystitis cases (p>0.05). Additionally, the rates of complicated appendicitis were similar between the two groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Despite the numerous challenges foreign patients may face within a healthcare system abroad, our findings indicate that these patients received appropriate and modern emergency surgical care at our institution. This study underscores the capability of healthcare systems to deliver equitable and high-quality treatment to diverse populations.

Keywords: emergency surgery, perioperative complications, delayed hospital admission, foreign patients, laparoscopic surgery, healthcare access barriers