In a remarkable feat of medical innovation, Professor Prokar Dasgupta was responsible for the UK’s first long-distance robotic surgery. He even performed surgery on a cancer patient located 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) away in Gibraltar. That day, February 11, was already shaping up to be a historic operation. The doctors saved 62-year-old Paul Buxton, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly after Christmas.
Buxton grew up in Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset. For the last four decades, he’s made Gibraltar his home, and last month became the first person to try this cutting-edge regenerative treatment — as part of a clinical trial. The minimally invasive surgical procedure used the Toumai Robotic System, with Professor Dasgupta performing surgery remotely from a da Vinci console in the UK. High-bandwidth fibre-optic cables linked this control room to the robotic system in Gibraltar. A backup 5G link kept the connection solid.
One team in Gibraltar remained on alert during the entire operation, prepared to address any connectivity challenges that could potentially surface. Luckily, the connection stayed solid and consistent throughout the whole process. In taking these big-picture ideas and translating them into operations, Professor Dasgupta shared his excitement. He claimed it was like “almost as if I was there” during the surgery.
Paul Buxton, an early proponent of remote surgery, was enthusiastic about the benefits it could provide. Without having chosen telesurgery in Gibraltar, he told us, “I would have had to fly to London. I would have had to go to the NHS waiting list, get the procedure done there, probably spending three weeks in London.” So I thought: ‘This is a no-brainer.’ Overall, he was extremely happy with the care he received. He explained he was “really well looked after” and feels “fantastic” now that the surgery is behind him.
In presenting this work, Professor Dasgupta – perhaps the world’s foremost robotic urological surgeon – made the case for the wider implications of this technology. “I think it is very, very exciting. The humanitarian benefit is going to be significant,” he remarked. His intention is to perform this pioneering procedure a second time on March 14. The event will be live-streamed to a projected audience of 20,000 urological surgeons at the European Association of Urology congress.
That amazing operation underscores the remarkable progress we’ve made in medical technology. It opens doors to patients who are seeking specialized acute care, even over long distances. Remote surgical procedures are becoming more favored. They are on the frontlines, ensuring access to essential medical care for those in isolated communities.