Papers
18
Total Citations
341
H-Index
10
About
Henrik Kehlet is a pioneering surgeon and researcher whose work has fundamentally reshaped perioperative care and surgical recovery. His key research areas include enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), fast-track surgery, and the comparative effectiveness of robotic versus open surgical techniques. Kehlet is best known for championing the concept of “fast-track” or enhanced recovery protocols, which aim to minimize surgical stress, reduce complications, and accelerate postoperative recovery. His major contributions include landmark studies on fast-track video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and evidence-based pain management after prostatectomy, as well as critical analyses of the real-world benefits and limitations of robot-assisted surgery in urology and gynecological oncology. With papers accumulating over 300 citations, his work has had a profound impact on clinical guidelines and hospital practices worldwide. Kehlet’s provocative commentary, “Enhanced postoperative recovery: good from afar, but far from good?” challenges the field to move beyond protocol checklists and address persistent gaps in patient outcomes. His leadership in the PROSPECT guidelines and his rigorous, double-blinded trials—such as the BORARC feasibility study—demonstrate his commitment to evidence-based innovation. For students and researchers, Kehlet’s career exemplifies how questioning established dogma and focusing on patient-centered outcomes can transform surgical medicine.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Fast-track video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: future challenges52 citations · 2015
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- 6Enhanced postoperative recovery: good from afar, but far from good?28 citations · 2020
- 7Perioperative medicine- the second round will need a change of tactics27 citations · 2015
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