From Shanghai, a Surgeon Performs Remote Robotic Surgeries on Two Patients in Mumbai

The procedures included a radical prostatectomy and a partial nephrectomy, carried out using the Toumai Remote Robotic Surgery System.

A surgeon stationed in Shanghai has remotely performed two robotic surgeries on patients admitted at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, over 5,000 kilometres away, in what the hospital said were India’s first international remote robotic surgeries.

The procedures included a radical prostatectomy and a partial nephrectomy, carried out using the Toumai Remote Robotic Surgery System. The patients were operated on at the hospital’s Andheri facility, while the surgeon conducted the procedures from China.

The hospital said the Toumai platform is currently the only robotic system carrying US FDA study approval for telesurgery and has also received clearance from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to the hospital, the surgeries were enabled by high-speed data transmission with an ultra-low bidirectional latency of 132 milliseconds. This allowed real-time control, smooth instrument movement and precise surgical dissection, making the procedures comparable to conventional on-site robotic surgeries.

The surgeries were led by Dr T B Yuvaraja, Director of Uro-Oncology and Robotic Surgery at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, who has performed more than 4,100 robotic procedures.

After completing the surgeries, Dr Yuvaraja said, “Remote robotic surgery has the potential to transform access to high-quality surgical care. Successfully performing these procedures across two large nations open up new avenues for offering world-class treatment across India and the world over.”

Commenting on the development, Dr Santosh Shetty, CEO and Executive Director of the hospital, said, “This landmark achievement reinforces Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital's leadership in adopting cutting-edge medical technologies. It demonstrates how specialist surgical expertise can be extended across continents without compromising outcomes.”

The hospital added that the successful execution of the procedures was the result of close coordination between multidisciplinary clinical teams, technology partners and engineering experts in both Mumbai and Shanghai.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News