A city hospital has successfully performed remote robotic surgeries on two patients in Mumbai with the help of a surgeon based in Shanghai, highlighting the advancement in the medical field here. It was conducted with the operating surgeon Dr. TB Yuvaraja, director (Group), Uro-Oncology and Robotic Surgery, Kokilaben Hospital, located in Shanghai, over 5,000 kilometres away,
This milestone, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Mumbai says is historic because it marks the first clinical application of the Toumai Remote Robotic Surgery System in India across borders, following approval by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and represents a significant advancement in the country’s remote surgical capabilities.
The landmark procedures were performed on two patients in Mumbai and included a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. It demonstrates the safety, precision, and reliability of long-distance robotic intervention for complex urological procedures. The surgeries, performed remotely, used the Toumai system, which is the only robotic surgical platform currently being US FDA Study Approved for use in telesurgery. The procedures successfully demonstrated real-time surgical control and high precision for uncompromised patient safety despite the vast geographical distance.
The international surgeries were enabled by high-speed, stable data transmission and multiple safety-assurance technologies. The system ensured real-time surgical control with ultra-low bidirectional latency of just 132 milliseconds, allowing the procedures to be performed with the same precision, safety, and reliability as conventional on-site robotic surgery. The ultra-low latency ensured seamless instrument movement, precise dissection, and reliable execution throughout the procedures.
Dr Yuvaraja, who performed the surgeries remotely, has an experience of over 4,100 robotic procedures. Commenting on the achievement, he said, “Remote robotic surgery has the potential to transform access to high-quality surgical care. This achievement also opens up new avenues for offering world class treatment across India and world over.”
The Toumai system allowed the surgeon to carry out complex procedures with the same confidence and accuracy as an in-person robotic surgery.
Dr. Santosh Shetty, CEO & executive director of the hospital said, “Being the first hospital in India to successfully perform intercontinental remote robotic surgeries following CDSCO approval of the Toumai system is a proud moment for our institution and for Indian healthcare. It opens new possibilities for expanding access to advanced surgical care, particularly for patients in remote and underserved regions.”