On February 11, Paul Buxton, a 62-year-old cancer patient, whizzed into the medical history books. He made history as the first patient to receive robotic surgery from 1,500 miles away. The historic surgery took place at St Bernard’s Hospital, Gibraltar. At Royal London Hospital, Professor Prokar Dasgupta expertly carried out the surgery from a console located 10,000 miles away. This first-of-its-kind surgery used the new Toumai Robotic System, representing a major leap forward in telesurgery technology.
Born in Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, Paul Buxton moved to Gibraltar 40 years ago. Upon being diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly after Christmas, he told us he was excited to be part of this trial. “I leapt at the opportunity,” said Buxton, who noted that it was a “no-brainer” for him to participate in this unique, historic medical event.
A highly technical arrangement connected the London console to the robotic arm in Gibraltar. This new connection only became possible through fibre-optic cables, but it allowed the surgery to be performed successfully. As a fail-safe, an extra 5G connection was set up too, to keep lines of communication open at all times throughout the procedure. Professor Dasgupta referred to this operation as a major landmark achievement for patients and medical professionals. He highlighted its promise to change the way surgeries in large distances are performed.
Buxton is an owner of a transportation company. Without the option of telesurgery, he said, he would have had to travel to London and might have faced a long wait on the NHS treatment list. Following the operation, he reported feeling “fantastic,” indicating a successful outcome from what many consider an innovative leap in surgical practices.
Professor Dasgupta’s participation in this process represents an effort to support the cutting-edge development of medical technologies that enhance patient accessibility. The success of this surgery should inspire patients overcoming geographical barriers. It paves the way for continued application of robotic surgery to other areas of medicine.