A team of researchers in China has successfully performed a remote robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy over a distance of 1,200 kilometers, marking a milestone in the application of telemedicine and robotic surgery. The procedure utilized the Edge Multi-Port Endoscopic Surgical Robot MP1000 (Edge MP1000) and 5G communication technology, with details of the case published in the journal Intelligent Surgery.
The surgery, broadcast live, involved a surgeon stationed at the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing, who controlled the robot remotely to operate on a patient in Wuhan. The Edge MP1000 system enabled the transmission of operation instructions from the surgeon’s console to the robotic unit in Wuhan via a dedicated 5G network. Simultaneously, three-dimensional endoscopic images were relayed back to the surgeon in real time, creating a closed-loop system essential for precision and synchronization.
Key to the success of this operation was the technological infrastructure supporting the surgical robot, which maintained low latency and high reliability during the procedure. According to lead researcher Yuanguang Meng, the bidirectional latency recorded during the surgery was 19 milliseconds, with a maximum jitter of 3 milliseconds in rare instances and a frame drop rate of 0.2%. These metrics underscore the system’s capability to meet the stringent requirements of remote surgical operations.
The robotic system also featured a remote communication host capable of monitoring and recording the surgery and network performance. Additionally, it offered intelligent assistance and ensured seamless interaction between medical teams in Beijing and Wuhan.
The patient experienced a smooth postoperative recovery, being discharged on the fourth day without complications. The achievement demonstrates the feasibility of remote surgical interventions in addressing healthcare disparities, particularly in geographically isolated regions, and highlights the potential for further development in telemedicine and robotic surgical technologies.
