On February 11, 2023, Professor Prokar Dasgupta reached an 800-year-old dream. He’s the pioneer of UK’s first long-distance robotic operation. Paul Buxton, a 62-year-old cancer patient, was the critical eye upon which this surgery played out. Remarkably, the delicate operation was carried out remotely from 1,500 miles away. Buxton, who is originally from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, has lived in Gibraltar for the last 40 years. This revolutionary surgery was performed using the cutting-edge Toumai Robotic System. It is included with a creative test or program aimed at boosting access to surgical care.
The robotics-assisted surgery was performed at St Bernard’s Hospital, Gibraltar. Professor Dasgupta piloted the robotic system from a console in London. The intricate system was networked perfectly together via fibre-optic cables and a speedy 5G connection. The Cabot team on the ground in Gibraltar was on call during the entire process, prepared to “open the pipes” to address any connectivity concerns. Thankfully, that connection held strong for the duration of the surgery.
Buxton’s treatment included the removal of his prostate after a sudden cancer diagnosis just before Christmas stopped him in his tracks. This heavy-lift operation set Daniel to become the first patient ever to experience this type of treatment remotely. It’s a massive advancement to the next level of surgical prowess. In thanking hospital staff after the surgery, Buxton said he was overwhelmed by the care provided. He said he was “feeling fantastic” and had been “really well looked after.”
Here’s how Professor Dasgupta described the experience, “I felt almost like I was present there. He stressed the larger moral and humanitarian picture about the potential uses of this emerging technology.
“I think it is very, very exciting, the humanitarian benefit is going to be significant.” – Professor Prokar Dasgupta
Remote surgeries have been key in this given the lack of medical infrastructure in Gibraltar. With just one hospital on the islands, residents often have to fly to receive specialized medical care outside their home nation. This visionary move addresses urgent health needs at their root. Beyond connecting patients to medical advancements today, it lays the groundwork for remote surgical care in the future.
Buxton would describe his decision to join the trial as a “no-brainer.” He was motivated partly, he said, by the opportunity to make “medical history.” The outcome of this move brings the use of remote surgery one step closer to becoming a common practice.
We have a very exciting special guest— Professor Dasgupta. On March 14, he will do the same live-streaming a similar procedure, to some 20,000 of his closest urological surgeon colleagues at a European Association of Urology congress. This exciting new event will focus on how robotic surgery is advancing the field and changing the practice of medicine around the globe.