Three elite surgical teams from China and the United Kingdom collaborated on a groundbreaking cross-continental robotic surgery on Thursday. Despite being in different countries, the teams described the experience as if they were operating in the same room.
The surgery was coordinated by Shanghai Renji Hospital, in partnership with the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Medicine and London’s Royal Marsden Hospital. The synchronized procedure occurred simultaneously across Shanghai, Hong Kong, and London.
The test surgery was carried out on a pig in Hong Kong, where the teams performed a laparoscopic robotic gastrectomy in a relay format, using a Chinese-developed remote robotic surgery platform.
Surgeons from Renji Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, highlighted that the successful operation confirmed the robustness, precision, and adaptability of Chinese surgical robotics across different locations. It also showcased the viability of international surgical collaboration using advanced technology.
Dr. Zhang Zizhen, head of gastrointestinal surgery at Renji Hospital, initiated the operation. He remotely performed the initial dissection and exposure of the gastroesophageal junction, noting the system’s sharp and accurate visuals.
The London team, led by Dr. Asif Chaudry, then took over. He used the robotic tools to detach the stomach from nearby organs such as the colon and spleen, and skillfully removed lymph nodes, all while communicating with colleagues in Shanghai and Hong Kong in real time. He remarked that the system’s responsiveness made it feel like he was physically present.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, the local team provided technical support and system oversight, ensuring everything ran smoothly and offering clinical assistance to the teams in Shanghai and London.
The entire procedure lasted about an hour and was marked by high-quality image transmission, prompt command execution, and seamless control handovers. The visual and surgical coherence across locations ensured a safe and continuous operation.
According to Wang Zheng, vice-president of Shanghai Renji Hospital, this cross-border collaboration highlights the potential of telemedicine to redistribute top-tier medical resources. He said such advancements offer a roadmap for future healthcare models where patients remain in place while experts provide services remotely.
Wang added that Renji Hospital will continue to work with global experts to further develop telemedicine, creating practical models to support the broader vision of smart healthcare in China and improving access to advanced care.
Dr. Chaudry also emphasized that integrating robotics, clinical expertise, and innovative research is revolutionizing cancer care. He said that this approach breaks geographic barriers, allowing global patients to access personalized and professional treatment no matter where they live.
Chinese hospitals already have a track record in remote surgeries. For instance, in July last year, doctors at Shanghai Chest Hospital used 5G-enabled domestic surgical robots to perform lung cancer surgery on a patient located 5,000 kilometers away in Xinjiang’s Kashgar region.
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