[Expert consensus on the responsibilities of robot-assisted gastric cancer surgery assistants (2026 version)].

As a complex surgical method, the success of robot-assisted radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer depends not only on the superb skills of the operating surgeon, but also on the close cooperation of the assistant team. However, there is still a lack of unified standards for the training, assessment and responsibility definition of assistants in robot-assisted gastric cancer surgery at home and abroad. To standardize the operation procedures of such surgical assistants, clarify their specific roles and tasks during the perioperative period, and further improve the overall efficiency of the surgical team and the safety guarantee of patients, the Clinical Research Cooperative Group for Robotic Surgery of the Gastric Cancer Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association specially invited domestic experts in the field of gastrointestinal surgery. Focusing on 16 most common clinical questions, relying on existing evidence-based medical evidence and rich clinical practice experience, 16 recommendations were formulated, and the Expert Consensus on the Responsibilities of Assistants in Robot-Assisted Gastric Cancer Surgery (2026 Edition) was discussed and established. This consensus systematically clarifies for the first time the scope of responsibilities and operational specifications of assistants in robot-assisted gastric cancer surgery throughout the perioperative period, aiming to construct a systematic and standardized framework for the operational responsibilities of such assistants, and promote the standardized and homogeneous development of robot-assisted gastric cancer surgery in China.