PhD Defence M. (Marjolijn) Leeman

Fast-track protocols are designed to aid in the optimization of surgical pathways, focusing on three key points: safety, patient-friendliness and efficiency. Many study groups have already described the positive results of implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Bariatric Surgery (ERABS) program in their hospitals. The general conclusion was that implementation of ERABS protocols had positive effects on patient outcome.

Due to the high amount of medical research in the area of metabolic surgery, many suggestions have been made to revise and improve the ERABS protocol. Also, as our hospital is a high-volume center for metabolic surgery, our experience leads us to new research questions. The answers to these questions may lead to changes in the ERABS protocol, which could result in further optimization of patient outcome.

This thesis focuses on metabolic surgery in a fast-track setting. The first aim was to evaluate and change the protocols used in metabolic surgery, and herewith improve the surgical treatment of morbid obesity. This was described in Part I. The second aim of this thesis was to evaluate the outcomes after metabolic surgery in a fast-track setting, as described in Part II.

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