In a groundbreaking medical event, Professor Prokar Dasgupta successfully performed the UK’s first long-distance robotic surgery on a patient located 1,500 miles away in Gibraltar. The procedure, occurring on February 11th, was for Paul Buxton, a 62-year-old father of two who has been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. This first-of-its-kind procedure used the state-of-the-art Toumai Robotic System, designed to showcase the power of telemedicine to meet complex healthcare needs.
A console in the UK operated the entire flight. It linked to the robotic apparatus in Gibraltar through fibre optic communications and had a secondary 5G connection for extra security. This unique arrangement enabled Professor Dasgupta to carry out the prostate removal operation seamlessly. He was amazed by the feeling that he was transported right inside the operating room.
Paul Buxton, a native of Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. Having spent 40 years living in Gibraltar, he’s thrilled to be involved with this historic operation. He’s called his decision a “no-brainer,” and he has sought to highlight the importance of joining us by making medical history.
“If I hadn’t gone for the telesurgery in Gibraltar, then I would have had to have flown to London. I would have had to go on the NHS waiting list, get the procedure done, and I would have probably been in London for three weeks. So I thought: ‘This is a no-brainer.’” – Paul Buxton
Her case shines a light on the need for such innovative procedures, a reflection of Gibraltar’s inadequate lack of healthcare capabilities. St. Bernard’s at Europort is the only hospital available to residents. Consequently, they tend to grapple with intricate medical conditions requiring advanced treatment overseas.
Following Buxton’s successful surgery, which involved a dedicated medical team on standby in Gibraltar, Professor Dasgupta noted the procedure’s potential humanitarian impact.
“I think it is very, very exciting; the humanitarian benefit is going to be significant.” – Professor Prokar Dasgupta
Buxton said he felt “fantastic” after the operation and lauded the care he received every step of the way. Whether or not this operation is considered a success, it does provide some lessons learned for the future of telesurgery. A second test case scheduled for March 4, with a different patient, is in the works. On March 14, Professor Dasgupta will undertake a very similar procedure, but live-streaming it to 20,000 of the world’s leading urological surgeons.
Meanwhile, UK surgeons are moving quickly with telesurgery. Their remarkable achievements, such as successfully executing a 4,000-mile transatlantic robotic stroke procedure on a cadaver, largely serve patients who encounter healthcare access obstacles due to geography.