rome-Based Surgeon Performs Historic Transcontinental Robotic Surgery in Beijing
BEIJING, CHINA - In a landmark achievement for global healthcare, a surgeon based in Rome, Italy, has successfully performed a live robotic surgery on a patient in Beijing, China – a distance of over 5,000 miles. The groundbreaking procedure, a robotic prostatectomy, marks the world’s first transcontinental telesurgery, demonstrating the potential to revolutionize access to specialized medical care.
The operation was led by Dr. zhang Xu, who remotely controlled robotic surgical instruments with remarkable precision. Enabled by ultra-fast 5G connectivity and fiber-optic networks, the system achieved a latency of less than 135 milliseconds – a critical threshold for real-time surgical control. This minimal delay ensured the surgeon’s movements were translated seamlessly to the robotic arms operating on the patient at the PLA General Hospital in Beijing.
The historic surgery was streamed live to a global audience of medical professionals, showcasing the viability of this advanced surgical technique. Experts believe this breakthrough will significantly expand access to complex procedures for patients in geographically remote areas, conflict zones, and regions with limited access to specialized medical expertise.
“This is a giant leap forward in the field of telesurgery,” stated a representative from the PLA general Hospital. “The successful completion of this procedure proves that complex surgeries can be safely and effectively performed across continents, opening up new possibilities for patient care worldwide.”
The growth underscores the growing role of advanced technologies, such as 5G and robotics, in transforming healthcare delivery. While robotic surgery itself has been evolving for years, the ability to perform procedures remotely across such vast distances represents a paradigm shift, potentially reshaping the future of surgical intervention and patient access to life-saving treatments.
Source: South China morning Post – Chinese doctor performs world’s first transcontinental robotic surgery between Beijing and Rome.
