Robotic Surgery Breakthrough: First Telerobotic Stroke Treatment Performed in Panama
In a medical first, a stroke patient in Panama City has undergone a successful robotic thrombectomy performed remotely by a neurosurgeon operating more than 120 miles away in Santiago, Panama. The procedure, completed Monday, marks a significant step toward expanding access to life-saving stroke treatment, according to XCath, the neuro-endovascular robotics company that developed the technology.
The patient, a man in his late 60s, was initially admitted to a public hospital lacking the capability to perform a mechanical thrombectomy – a procedure to remove a blood clot blocking an artery in the brain. He was subsequently transferred to The Panama Clinic in Panama City, where he was prepped for the procedure using the XCath Iris Surgical Robotic System. Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira, operating from a control station at Clínica Norte in Santiago, then took control of the robotic interface and successfully removed the clot on the first attempt.
The patient had presented with a severe ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion (LVO), registering a score of 21 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), indicating a high risk of death or severe disability. Within 24 hours of the procedure, his NIHSS score dramatically improved to 2, and doctors anticipate a full neurological recovery. The restoration of cerebral blood flow occurred in minutes, according to XCath.
“For years I have seen how two patients with the same condition have completely different outcomes simply based on where they are located,” said Dr. Pereira. “This advancement demonstrates that can change.”
Mechanical thrombectomy is considered the gold standard treatment for large vessel occlusion strokes, but access remains limited globally. XCath cites a median global access rate of just 2.79% due to the specialized skills required and the limited number of neurosurgeons trained to perform the procedure. The company’s technology aims to address this disparity by enabling remote intervention.
The procedure, dubbed “Operation Robo Angel,” was conducted as part of a clinical investigation. XCath’s president, Dr. Fred Moll, who also founded Intuitive Surgical – the company behind the Da Vinci surgical system – stated that the achievement “marks a decisive step toward a new standard of care, where technology allows life-saving treatments to reach patients who previously had no access.”
The potential benefits of remote robotic surgery extend beyond increased access, addressing concerns about the risks faced by neurosurgeons, including constant exposure to radiation during these procedures. Remote operation could reduce this exposure and broaden the reach of available specialists.
Stroke affects millions worldwide, causing over 5 million deaths annually and leaving another 5 million people with severe disabilities, according to XCath. The XCath Iris Surgical Robotic System is currently pending regulatory approval for commercial distribution.