Physician in the Loop
For youSign in
Obstetrics and gynecology ·

RACC finds fewer intraoperative complications with robotic radical hysterectomy; TENS fails for IUD pain; sterilization website tested

A handheld fetal Doppler with a speaker grille, joined by a coiled cord to a flat round probe with three amber sound arcs rising from it.
THE SHORT READ

Robot-assisted radical hysterectomy for early cervical cancer had fewer intraoperative complications than open surgery but similar 30-day postoperative complications in a secondary analysis of the RACC trial in JAMA Surgery. Two randomized trials in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology tested transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for intrauterine device insertion pain and a decision website before tubal sterilization.

THE DETAILS
  • Research Oct 7, 2026
    RACC trial: robotic radical hysterectomy has fewer intraoperative complications than open surgery, similar 30-day morbidity
    In a prespecified secondary analysis of the Robot-Assisted Approach to Cervical Cancer (RACC) trial, a multicenter phase 3 noninferiority trial that randomized 900 patients with early-stage cervical cancer, intraoperative complications occurred in 5.7% of the robot-assisted group versus 10.0% of the open group (risk difference -4.3 percentage points; 95% CI -8.0 to -0.6), according to JAMA Surgery. Postoperative complications within 30 days were similar (33.4% versus 34.8%). The authors said these exploratory analyses were not powered for confirmatory inference and showed no improvement in clinically consequential outcomes or recovery.
    Sources: JAMA Surgery, PubMed, Crossref
  • Research Oct 8, 2026
    Sham-controlled trial finds high-frequency TENS does not reduce pain during IUD insertion
    In a double-blind randomized trial of 98 participants, active high-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) did not reduce pain at intrauterine device (IUD) insertion compared with sham TENS (50.8 versus 50.6 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale; P = .97), according to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Results did not differ by parity. Clinicians' estimates of maximum pain were lower than participants' reports (48.9 versus 60.5 mm; P < .001).
    Sources: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PubMed
  • Research Oct 8, 2026
    Decision website raises perceived access to birth control and knowledge before tubal sterilization in 350-person trial
    In a randomized trial of 350 people considering tubal sterilization, those who reviewed the Advancing Access website reported greater perceived access to birth control at three months than an attention control group that reviewed the federal consent form HHS-687 and Planned Parenthood's website (62% versus 58%; P = .02), according to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The primary outcome was a multidimensional measure of access to reproductive health services. Contraceptive knowledge scores were higher within one week (68% versus 52% of questions correct; P < .001) and at three months (61% versus 52%; P < .001).
    Sources: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PubMed

The weekly innovation roundup for obstetrics and gynecology, published every Sunday for the week before; every item links to its sources. Latest obstetrics and gynecology news · All specialties