Indian-Origin Surgeon Performs World’s Longest-Distance Cardiac Telesurgery Across 20,000 Km
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The surgeon and patient were separated by nearly 20,000 kilometres, with the operation carried out using the India-developed SSI Mantra robotic surgical platform.
SS Innovations has conducted the longest-distance cardiac telesurgery ever recorded, with an Indian-origin cardiac surgeon operating on a patient in India from Guyana.
The landmark robot-assisted heart procedure connected Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in Guyana with IRCAD India in Indore, where the patient-side robotic system was stationed. The surgeon and patient were separated by nearly 20,000 kilometres, with the operation carried out using the India-developed SSI Mantra robotic surgical platform.
Robotic cardiac surgeon and SS Innovations founder Dr Sudhir Srivastava remotely performed the procedure from Guyana using the India-developed system. The surgery involved a Left Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA) takedown, a key step in coronary bypass surgery, and was completed in approximately four hours and 50 minutes.
Conducted over a fibre-optic network spanning nearly 20,000 kilometres, the operation reported a communication delay of around 290–300 milliseconds. Despite this latency, the robotic arms in Indore replicated the surgeon’s movements in real time, guided by high-definition 3D visualisation and remote-control technology.
The achievement comes amid growing global interest in telesurgery, a field that aims to enable specialist surgeons to operate on patients located thousands of kilometres away. Experts say the technology could help bridge gaps in access to advanced surgical care, particularly in regions facing shortages of highly specialised medical professionals.
“The successful completion of this intercontinental cardiac telesurgery marks a significant milestone for telesurgery and moves us closer to expanding access to specialised surgical expertise globally,” said Dr Sudhir Srivastava, Chairman and CEO of SS Innovations International.
“With each new remote procedure, we continue to push the boundaries of telesurgery and move closer to democratizing access to world-class surgical expertise globally,” he said.
Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali described the procedure as a landmark achievement for healthcare innovation, saying it demonstrated how technology could overcome geographical barriers and expand access to specialised medical expertise. He said the initiative could help strengthen Guyana’s healthcare capabilities and support the development of a skilled workforce in robotic surgery.
The latest procedure more than doubles the distance covered during a previous robotic cardiac telesurgery conducted between Strasbourg, France, and Indore, India, which spanned around 10,000 kilometres.
The operation was supported by surgical teams in India, including cardiac surgeons and technical staff who monitored the robotic system and patient throughout the procedure.
H. E. Seeraj Dharamkumar, High Commissioner of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to India, said, “The successful completion of the world’s longest-distance robotic cardiac telesurgery between Guyana and India is a remarkable milestone in the advancement of global healthcare. As Guyana continues to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure and embrace innovative medical solutions, collaborations such as this play a vital role in enhancing patient care and building future-ready healthcare capabilities.”
Industry experts say the successful completion of such long-distance procedures could accelerate the adoption of robotic surgery networks, although challenges related to regulation, cybersecurity, connectivity and patient safety remain critical considerations before widespread implementation.
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