London, March 6 A London-based Indian-origin surgeon has achieved a medical milestone by successfully performing the UK's first remote robotic surgeries on patients in Gibraltar, a location approximately 2,400 km away.
Professor Prokar Dasgupta, a leading robotic urological surgeon who heads The London Clinic's Robotic Centre of Excellence, stated that his two test cases demonstrated the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).
He successfully performed a prostatectomy, the partial or complete removal of the prostate gland, on a 52-year-old unnamed patient on Wednesday, following a successful procedure on February 11.
"This is a great example of teamwork, friendship, international collaboration, and responsible AI, achieved after a year of planning," said Dasgupta.
The London Clinic announced that this marks the hospital as the first in the country to conduct such remote robot-assisted telesurgery, in collaboration with the Gibraltar Health Authority and urological surgeons James Allan and Paul Hughes at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar.
The procedure, performed using the Toumai Robotic System by Microport, has the potential to revolutionize surgery for patients worldwide.
In January, 62-year-old Paul Buxton was diagnosed with prostate cancer and offered the opportunity to participate in a telesurgery trial by the two hospitals.
He had moved to Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory, from the United Kingdom approximately 40 years ago and had initially planned to travel to London for the surgery.
"I explained to Mr. Buxton that we now have the technology to perform this remotely. Why waste time, energy, money, and inconvenience traveling? I will stay in London, and he will stay in Gibraltar," recalled Professor Dasgupta.
Buxton, who is recovering well from his surgery, described it as a "privilege" to be a part of medical history and expressed hope that it will pave the way for many similar surgeries.
"Of course, I was initially concerned, but after researching, I thought someone had to be the first, right?
"I hope my experience encourages others to consider telesurgery. I have undergone three or four surgeries before, for hernias, and I didn't feel well afterward, but I felt much better this time – the recovery is much faster, and I haven't had to travel abroad," he said.
The telesurgery was supported by logistics provided by global technology services and solutions provider Presidio, utilizing a 3D camera with a time lag of just 0.06 seconds across the two countries.
Robotic-assisted surgery has been around for the past 20 years, but it is only recently that technology has made it possible for robots to connect across long distances using fiber optic cables and 5G connectivity.
"Delivering modern healthcare to small, remote populations is challenging – there aren't enough patients, which means surgeons aren't performing enough operations to become truly skilled and safe," said Consultant Urologist Dr. James Allan, the Gibraltar Health Authority's lead for Robotics, Teleremote Surgery, and Innovation.
"This means patients have to travel. Or rather, they did until now. Gibraltar is rewriting surgical history. We are no longer followers – we are leaders," he said.
The London Clinic and St. Bernard’s Hospital are scheduled to livestream another telesurgery procedure at the European Association Congress in London on March 14, reaching an audience of 20,000 urology surgeons.
"The London Clinic is proud to be a part of medical history, and we have a strong reputation for medical firsts… We hope more patients will be able to benefit from this incredible medical breakthrough," said Al Russell, CEO of The London Clinic.
The Toumai robotic system at the Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) was funded through a grant from Kusuma Trust Gibraltar, with additional charitable support from Prostate Cancer Gibraltar, and further investment by the GHA.
Gemma Arias-Vasquez, minister for health, care, and business in Gibraltar, hailed this as a "landmark moment" for the self-governing territory.
"To perform a complex procedure in Gibraltar with the operating surgeon based in London demonstrates how technology, investment, and the expertise of our clinicians are transforming healthcare.
"Patients can now benefit from world-leading specialist care at The London Clinic without the disruption of travelling abroad, and that is a huge step forward for a modern, patient-centred health service," she said.
The UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) plans to expand telesurgery networks as part of a 10-year plan tabled last year. It is hoped that such remote robotic-assisted procedures will also be used for other surgeries, such as gynaecological, colorectal, and upper gastrointestinal conditions.
