The Influence of Surgeons' Gender on Surgical Outcomes in Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy: A Japanese Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: In Japan, the rapid reduction and aging of surgeons have become a serious problem in gastroenterological surgery field, therefore, an increase in the number and the activity of female surgeons is essential. Previous most studies comparing surgical outcomes between male and female surgeons included a variety of surgical procedures, which leads to be inconclusive. Methods: This study enrolled patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer and were registered in the Japanese National Clinical Database (NCD) between 2018 and 2022. A logistic model was applied to calculate the risk-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of surgical outcomes in comparison between male and female surgeons. Main outcome measures were surgical mortality and severe postoperative complications. Results: Finally, 58 503 surgeries (male surgeon: 53 387 (91.3%), female surgeons: 5116 (8.7%)) were identified and analyzed. Female surgeons had fewer post-registration years and similar surgical risk patients compared with male surgeons. No significant differences were observed in the adjusted risk for mortality and severe complications between male and female surgeons (mortality: OR 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87–1.92 and severe complications: OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.83–1.13, respectively). Conclusions: From our results using NCD, no significant differences were observed in surgical mortality and severe complications in patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy between male and female surgeons. Our findings suggest that providing well-structured and efficient surgical training programs for all surgeons, regardless of gender, may help further improve surgical quality.