UK Surgeon Performs Groundbreaking Robotic Surgery From 1,500 Miles Away!

A London surgeon has made history by performing the United Kingdom’s first long-distance robotic surgery on a patient who was 1,500 miles away in Gibraltar. Professor Prokar Dasgupta, a leading expert in robotic urological surgery, used a special robot called the Toumai Robotic System to remove the prostate of Paul Buxton, a 62-year-old cancer patient. Professor Dasgupta said that even though he was far away, it felt almost as if he was right there in the operating room. Paul Buxton was excited to be part of this medical breakthrough and said it was an easy decision to help make history.

Gibraltar is a British territory with only one hospital, so people often have to travel to the UK for complicated medical treatments. Paul, who moved to Gibraltar from Somerset 40 years ago, thought he would have to wait for a long time and travel to London for his surgery. Instead, he was offered the chance to be the first patient to try this new remote surgery as part of a trial. Paul said, 'If I hadn’t gone for the telesurgery in Gibraltar, then I would have had to have flown to London, go on the NHS waiting list, get the procedure done, and probably stay in London for three weeks. ' He was happy to stay in Gibraltar and recover at home.

The surgery was done from The London Clinic, where Professor Dasgupta controlled the robot using a console with a 3D HD camera and four robotic arms. The connection between London and Gibraltar was made using fiber-optic cables, with a backup 5G link in case of problems. A team in Gibraltar was ready to help if needed, but the connection stayed strong the whole time. This operation is seen as a big step forward for medicine, as it could help people in remote places get expert care without having to travel. Professor Dasgupta will perform more surgeries like this and share his experience with thousands of other surgeons. He believes this technology will make a big difference for patients in the future.