PhD defence E.K.M. (Elke) Tjeertes

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate outcome after non-cardiac surgery and thereby identify the “outliers”, meaning patients with risks beyond the conventional risk factors. Our research question is to compare perioperative risks in “outliers” (i.e. obese or underweight patients, older patients, frail patients, patients experiencing postoperative complications, or patients with a low socioeconomic status) with the “normal” population. 

We have identified high-risk patients, or “outliers”, high-risk surgical procedures and behavioral risks. Although the studies in this thesis do not include every imaginable “outlier”, it is clear that patients at the upper and lower extremes of the BMI, the elderly and frail patients and patients with a low socioeconomic status are more at risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. It is important to realize that not just patients’ comorbidities and demographics are responsible for these risks; surgical risk and the occurrence of postoperative complications play an important role as well. From this perspective, when “outliers” are presented for surgery, we should weigh
the potential benefits of an operation against possible perioperative risks even more and discuss this with our patients.

Due to corona, the PhD defences do not take place publicly in the usual way in the Senate Hall or in the Professor Andries Querido Room. The candidates will defend their dissertation either in a small group or online.