TeleSurgery: The Present and the Future for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery

Telesurgery represents the fusion of surgical and telecommunications technologies that allow surgeons to remotely operate on patients using robotic systems. Two decades after the first successful transatlantic surgery, telesurgery is finally transitioning from experimental feasibility to practical reality. Current worldwide experiences demonstrate that remote robotic surgery can be performed safely when critical requirements are fulfilled, namely with a fast, stable, and low-latency connection, properly trained personnel on both ends using advanced platforms. Remaining technical challenges are getting tackled by the collective work of engineers and surgeons. In summary, telesurgery represents a leading edge of surgical innovation in the twenty-first century.