Quanzhou, Fujian Province - On July 4, the Intelligent Training Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (referred to as the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University) and the Operation Room of the First Affiliated Hospital of Quanzhou, Fujian Medical University (referred to as the First Affiliated Hospital of Quanzhou) carried out an operation spanning thousands of miles. After strict and sufficient technical argumentation, animal experiments, and scientific and ethical demonstration, the operation team led by Professor Dan Xia, director of Urology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University and Professor Suo Wang, worked closely with the team of Professor Zhiyang Huang of the First Affiliated Hospital of Quanzhou through the 5G network of telecommunications, to complete the world’s first 5G telerobotics assisted radical prostatectomy (RALRP) with the assistance from the Chinese-developed Toumai® four-arm laparoscopic surgical robot (short as Toumai® Robot). The surgery is one of most complex types of 5G remote surgery. Due to the high difficulty of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, it requires precise completion of tedious and complex movements in extremely confined space of abdominal cavity. Therefore, its successful completion signifies a new milestone set by the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in 5G remote surgery in China, and also indicates that Toumai® assisted 5G remote surgery is increasingly mature in completing difficult and complex surgeries.

The patient, aged 80, is from Quanzhou, Fujian Province. Unfortunately, he suffered from prostate cancer (Gleason score: left 4+5=9, right 4+4=8). He previously planned to visit Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province where Professor Dan Xia, director of Urology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, would perform robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. However, due to advanced age, and long distance between the two places, it was inconvenient for family members to take care of him, they were unable to visit to Hangzhou. Upon learning about the relevant situation, Professor Dan Xia fully communicated with the patient and his family members, and developed a rigorous and prudent personalized treatment plan with teams led by Professor Suo Wang and Professor Zhiyang Huang. He planned to perform 5G Telerobotics assisted radical resection of prostate cancer for the patient, so that the patient can be effectively treated in time through surgery, and it facilitates the care from family members.

On the afternoon of July 4, Professor Dan Xia at the Intelligent Training Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, performed the surgery by remote control of Toumai® robotic arm in the operating room of the First Affiliated Hospital of Quanzhou through Toumai® robot operating table. The entire surgery was successfully complected with 2 hours 27 minutes, with a bleeding volume of 50 ml only. The patient had a good postoperative condition. Successful completion of this complex surgery in a short period of time showcases Professor Dan Xia’a exquisite surgical skills in complex surgeries, and demonstrates Toumai® robot’s persistently stable auxiliary role.

After the successful completion of surgery, Professor Dan Xia pointed out in an interview that the completion of 5G remote radial prostatectomy marks that remote surgery is not only a simple operation, but also capable of undertaking complex and delicate minimally-invasive procedures. Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is one of the most difficult urology operations and also the gold standard of the industry. It requires precise control of robot’s wrist instruments in the extremely confined space of abdominal cavity to complete tedious pulling, mobilization and dissection actions, and usually complete a wide range of lymph node dissection. Due to coverage of blood vessels, nerves and complex tissue structures within the surgical scope, open surgery or laparoscopic surgery is time-consuming, and may cause much bleeding, making difficult to thoroughly clean the affected tissue. The surgery with the assistance of endoscopic robot has significant advantages such as minimally-invasive, precise, flexible and filtering. Moreover, medical staff can carry out robot assisted surgery after training, examinations, holding certificates and accumulation of certain clinical experience through practice.

Professor Dan Xia indicated that robot-assisted surgery at present has become an important director for the development of minimally-invasive procedure. As the first unit to introduce surgical robots in Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University has completed more than 12,000 robotic surgeries, including nearly 10,000 urological surgeries. In the key stage of development of Chinese-developed robots, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University has taken the lead in setting up Shanghai MicroPort® MedBot Robotic Surgery Training Center in China, which improves the diagnostic and treatment skills of medical staff, brings benefits to patients, and feeds back the clinical application experience and improvement suggestions of Chinese-developed robots to manufacturers, contributing to continuous improvement of their performance.

Professor Dan Xia believes that it is very significant to carry out 5G telerobotics assisted surgery. The application of 5G remote surgery breaks through the time and space constraints of medical resource allocation. When providing medial assistance to remote areas or responding to possible disasters and accidents, it can improve the efficiency of patient and trauma treatment, reduce economic costs, and greatly expand the application boundary of remote diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Chao He, the president of MicroPort® MedBot® Group stated:

With the deep accumulation in 5G technology and innovative practices in application scenarios, MicroPort® MedBot® cooperates with well-known hospitals in China. After strict and sufficient technical argumentation, animal experiments, and scientific and ethical demonstration, we have carried out a series of robot-assisted 5G ultra remote surgery in urology, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, chest, orthopedics and other fields, promoting the sinking of high-quality medical resources and benefiting patients in more regions. In the future, MicroPort® MedBot® will work together with more medical institutions to promote medical cooperation and application research in remote medical technology, joint build a new 5G robot medical industry, promote the improvement of a graded diagnosis and treatment system, enabling patients accessible to nearby medical treatment for serious diseases and achieving the goal of “Healthy China 2030”.