The London Clinic became the first hospital in the UK to successfully conduct remote robot-assisted telesurgery on a patient, 2,400km away in Gibraltar, making medical history and revolutionising surgery for patients globally.
On 4th March, Professor Dasgupta led the remote surgery to carry out a prostatectomy – a partial or complete removal of the prostate gland. The Toumai robot was linked to the Kusuma Robotic Surgery Suite at St Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar, where the patient and Gibraltar Health Authority surgeons were based.
A secure, high-performance network infrastructure, designed and delivered by leading global technology company, Presidio, provided the resilient, real-time connectivity essential to safely perform the surgery across 2,400 km between the London Clinic and St. Bernards Hospital, Gibraltar with a time lag of just 48 milliseconds.
In January, Mr Paul Buxton, 62, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and offered the opportunity by the two hospitals, The London Clinic and his local hospital, St Bernard’s in Gibraltar, to take part in a telesurgery trial on 11th February, becoming the first patient in the UK – and Gibraltar – to have successful telesurgery.
Successful trial: UK patient says ‘privileged to be part of medical history’
Mr Buxton, 62, who moved to Gibraltar from the UK 40 years ago, was originally planning to travel to London for the surgery.
Professor Dasgupta, a pioneer in robotic surgery, said, “I explained to Mr Buxton that we now have the technology to perform this remotely. Why waste time, energy, money and inconvenience to fly over? I stay in London, he stays in Gibraltar.
“It is very exciting to be part of this UK first telesurgery – a first for the UK and The London Clinic and St Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar.”
The London Clinic and St Bernard’s Hospital also live streamed a telesurgery procedure at The European Association Congress, to an audience of 20,000 urology surgeons.
Chief Executive at The London Clinic, Al Russell, said, “The London Clinic is proud to be part of medical history and we have a strong reputation for medical firsts. Congratulations to Professor Dasgupta and the Gibraltar Health Authority and Dr Allan and his team at St Bernard’s. We hope more patients will be able to benefit from this incredible medical breakthrough.”
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