Bedside assistant’s seniority has no influence on perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications expecting a shorter operative time in robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (RALH) for patients diagnosed with cervical cancer: a single-center retrospective case-control study

Objective: We aimed to explore the relationship between the bedside assistant’s seniority in RALH for cervical cancer and perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications. Design: Retrospective, Single-center, Case-control study Setting: The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Population: A total of 76 patients diagnosed with FIGO stage IA- IIA cervical cancer received robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy between January 2020 and January 2022. Methods: The enrolled objects were divided into three groups, according to the length of time the bedside assistant involving in gynecological work, which was ≤ 5 years (group 1), 5-10 years (group 2), and ≥ 10 years (group 1). Dates of operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay and postoperative complications were analyzed by SPSS. Main outcome measures: The total operation time was calculated from the preparation time to closure time. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed among the data of operative time (P=0.002). Pairwise comparison between group 3 and group 1, 2 noted that there were significant differences. The operative time of group 3 was shorter than group 1 and group 2 (p=0.001, p=0.002 respectively). However, no significant differences were observed in terms of the length of stay (P=0.398), estimated blood loss (P=0.314), postoperative complications within 42 days (P=0.444), and postoperative complications after 42 days (P=0.223) between these three groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: BA’s experience had no positive influence on perioperative surgical outcomes and postoperative complications, except for a shorter operative time only when they incorporated into gynecology ≥ ten years.