Summary
A surgeon in London successfully conducted the UK's first remote robotic surgery, performing prostate removal on a patient in Gibraltar, 1,500 miles away. The procedure used the Toumai Robotic System and was a test case to demonstrate the benefits of remote surgery for patients in remote areas.
Key Facts
- The surgery took place between London and Gibraltar, a distance of 1,500 miles (2,400km).
- Professor Prokar Dasgupta performed the operation using the Toumai Robotic System.
- Paul Buxton, the patient, chose remote surgery to avoid traveling to London and waiting for NHS procedures.
- The surgery used a robot with a 3D HD camera and four arms, controlled through a console in London.
- The connection between the UK and Gibraltar was maintained via fibre-optic cables and a backup 5G link.
- This operation was the first of two test cases, with a second scheduled for 4 March.
- The procedure aims to make high-quality surgical care accessible in remote locations.
- The NHS plans to increase robotic-assisted surgeries, targeting 500,000 per year by 2035.
