In a medical first, doctors at Bordeaux University Hospital in France successfully performed heart surgery on a patient located 10,000 kilometers away in Xiamen, China, on October 23rd.
Teh groundbreaking telesurgery, conducted from a meeting room at the hospital, utilized a robotic system and a high-speed internet connection to bridge the vast distance. Two cardiologists performed the procedure on a patient suffering from a heart leak.
This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of medicine, possibly offering access to specialized care for patients in remote locations and underserved areas. The ability to conduct complex procedures regardless of geographical limitations could dramatically reshape healthcare delivery worldwide.
“We completely forgot that we were 10,000 kilometers away and we really had the impression that we were treating a patient close to us,” stated Dr.Lionel Leroux, a cardiologist at Bordeaux University Hospital.”And at the end of the procedure, we came back to reality a little, as if we woke up and said to ourselves ‘Hey, we have just treated the patient with a good result but he is 10,000 kilometers away.'”
The operation itself lasted approximately ten minutes and was deemed a success. Doctors anticipate refining the technology and training a select group of specialists to perform multiple procedures daily, expanding access globally. “We are going to optimize the knowledge and knowledge of a few who will be able to carry out 10 procedures per day, and not in just one contry, but on a global scale,” Dr. Leroux explained.
The Bordeaux team is already planning further remote operations, with patients in Europe and the united States identified as potential candidates.
