The State of Female Hepato-Pancreato-biliary (HPB) Surgeons in China: See Us in Operation Theater with Great Prospects.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the proportion and distribution of female HPB surgeons in China, describe their current status, and analyze the possible barriers and challenges in their careers.Method: Tertiary hospitals with the division of HPB in mainland China in 2021 were enrolled and surgeon demographic information was collected through the review of official websites and/or telephone interviews.Results: The majority of female HPB surgeons (72.92%) were located in the first or second-tier cities in mainland China, with an increasing number of new female HPB surgeons entering the field annually, particularly after 2005 (from 27 to 52 per 5 years). Despite no significant difference in academic backgrounds, female HPB surgeons initiated their careers at an earlier age and took a longer time to obtain chief titles (P < 0.05). Interestingly, female HPB surgeons performed laparoscopic complex HPB cases at a similar rate (95.42%) to their male counterparts and were more likely to specialize in endoscopic surgery (P = 0.021), with a similar ratio of obtaining administrative positions.Conclusion: Minimally invasive surgery may provide females with unprecedented opportunities in the HPB surgery field. However, despite the increasing numbers of female HPB surgeons, the proportion remains low in China.