Baseline characteristics of cohort
Table 1 shows the baseline characteristics of the three groups: early learning phase of 61 procedures (group 1), experienced phase of 104 procedures thereafter (group 2), and 61 procedures during introduction of a novice surgeon (group 3). Patients characteristics were comparable for the newly added group 3. Median follow-up duration and number of lymph nodes harvested (based on pathology report) were significantly lower in group 3 compared to group 1 and group 2. In all groups the majority of patients completed 3-year follow-up at the time of data collection: 56 patients (91.8%) in group 1, 96 patients (92.3%) in group 2, and 54 patients (88.5%) in group 3 (p =0.76).
In total 52 (23.0%) patients received adjuvant therapy; proportions across the three groups were not significantly different (see Table 1). Indications for adjuvant therapy (i.e. chemoradiation or radiotherapy) included positive lymph nodes (n = 27), parametrial invasion (n = 6), positive or insufficient resection margins (n = 10), fulfilled Sedlis criteria (n = 3)28, or a combination of any of these criteria (n = 5). One patient received chemoradiation because radical hysterectomy was unachievable due to extensive pelvic fibrosis.