Introduction
multimorbidity
ADVERSE EVENTS, CHRONIC DISEASES
As a result of increased life expectancy and improved care for patients with chronic diseases, the number of frail patients and patients with multimorbidity requiring surgical interventions is rising [Multidisciplinary team meetings accommodate discussions between various specialists regarding optimal and individualized treatment plans. In several medical specialties, MDT meetings are recommended and already frequently established [European and US guidelines on perioperative care recommend preoperative multidisciplinary discussion for high-risk noncardiac surgical patients [The primary aim of this stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT) is to assess whether preoperative MDT discussions for high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery lead to a decrease in serious adverse events (SAEs) after 6 months. Secondly, the current trial will assess the cost-effectiveness of implementing a preoperative MDT meeting for high-risk noncardiac surgical patients compared to current preoperative screening practices. Furthermore, we aim to assess the effect of preoperative MDT discussions on survival, quality of life, and functional outcome, as well as the patient’s decision regret [