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About

Ad F. T. M. Verhagen is a leading thoracic surgeon and health technology researcher whose work bridges surgical innovation and economic evaluation. His primary research areas include lung cancer surgery outcomes, persistent air leak (PAL) management, and the cost-effectiveness of robot-assisted surgery. Verhagen’s major contribution is his systematic analysis of variation in PAL prevention and treatment after pulmonary resection, revealing inconsistencies in clinical practice that directly impact patient recovery and hospital stay duration. His 2021 study on this topic (30 citations) has become a reference point for standardizing postoperative care. Equally influential is his development of an interactive tool to assess when robot-assisted surgery provides value for money compared to endoscopic or open procedures (28 citations), enabling hospitals to make evidence-based investment decisions. His recent work tracking the nationwide rise of robot-assisted surgery in the Netherlands (2025) documents its growing adoption for high-complex, low-volume resections. Verhagen’s research uniquely combines clinical rigor with health economics, helping surgeons and policymakers optimize both patient outcomes and healthcare resources.