Robotic urological surgeon Professor Prokar Dasgupta made an extraordinary surgical milestone in medical technology on February 11. He showed us how he did prostate removal surgery on patient Paul Buxton. Paul’s home base was 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) distant in Gibraltar, and Professor Dasgupta worked from his London office. This trailblazing procedure is the first of its kind in the UK, representing another major step forward for telesurgery.
In the surgery, the complex Toumai Robotic System was used, enabling Professor Dasgupta to carry out the operation from miles away. Beyond its gleaming robot, this surgeon’s innovative approach — both in technique and mindset — exemplifies the marvelous potential of robotic surgery. It addresses the barriers patients encounter when seeking necessary specialized care. Mr. Buxton was able to take advantage of this cutting-edge technology, putting less of a burden on him for travel and long wait times.
Through telehealth, this was an opportunity to access top-notch care without the burden of long-distance travel, Mr. Buxton remarked. “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.”
To be sure, this operation was a big test. Mr. Buxton was the first patient ever to receive this revolutionary treatment from a distance. The operation was performed over a dedicated connection made up of fibre-optic cables with a secondary 5G link. An experienced team in Gibraltar was on standby the entire process to guarantee smooth communication at all times.
In his reaction to his experience, Professor Dasgupta said, “It was like I was really present in that place. Only his unwavering confidence in the technology made this operation successful. Support from his team 12 made all the difference in bringing that success into reality.
Following this precedent-setting event, Professor Dasgupta is scheduled to conduct another remote surgery on March 14. Like the first operation, this second one will be live-streamed to 20,000 urological surgeons. On this note, it will showcase the remarkable effectiveness of telesurgery during the upcoming European Association of Urology congress.
Earlier this fall, Professor Dasgupta took part in a transatlantic robotic stroke procedure on a cadaver that was over 4,000 miles long. It’s an exciting breakthrough for Jesse and for UK surgeons, marking the first-ever minimally invasive approach. Now, they can provide focused, specialized care without being confined by geographical borders.
