By Ecoticias
Credits: POLITICO
In a notable milestone, Chinese medical experts made history by conducting the first telesurgery robot across two continents. This revolutionary operation was performed by Professor Zhang Xu, who controlled the surgical procedure from a console in Rome, Italy, on a patient located over 8,000 kilometers away in Beijing, China.
The patient, suffering from prostate cancer, underwent a successful surgery with Professor Zhang’s console-controlled robotic instruments. This incredible achievement highlights how the advancement of robotic and telecommunication technologies is shaping the future of surgery and expanding medical possibilities beyond borders.
The system that made this feat possible relies heavily on robotic instruments and high-speed internet connections, allowing surgeons to operate without being physically present. In this groundbreaking procedure, Professor Zhang removed tissue from the patient’s prostate using robotic tools.
A key factor in the success of the surgery was the remarkably low delay between the surgeon’s actions and the robot’s response—just 135 milliseconds—far below the 200 milliseconds benchmark set by medical studies for telesurgery.
The precision of the surgery depended not only on the advanced robotic systems but also on the synchronization between these machines and the surgeon’s skillful guidance. Using a remote console, the physician could maneuver robotic arms and delicate surgical instruments with high precision, almost as if performing the surgery in the same room as the patient.
This achievement is a testament to the effectiveness of robotic surgical systems when combined with surgeon expertise, enabling an efficient and smooth operation.
One of the biggest challenges in performing remote surgeries is the risk of time delays, which can jeopardize patient safety. Communication between the surgical team and the remote surgeon must be flawless. However, according to Professor Zhang, the operation’s seamless feedback made it feel like he was physically present, performing the surgery on-site.
This near-real-time communication opens up possibilities for regions with fewer medical resources to access world-class surgeries from afar, revolutionizing the healthcare landscape. By completing this procedure, Professor Zhang and his team have set the stage for a new era of remote surgeries that can drastically improve medical access in underserved areas, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to receive expert care.
Read original story and more on ECOticias.com
My Take
Indeed it is an outstanding achievement that promises a wonderful future for healthcare delivery especially in poor countries with limited modern medical facilities but my fear is that the disruptive and entrenched system of corruption in most African countries will still hinder the availability of such great and innovative approach to medicare for the masses.
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