Telerobotic partial nephrectomy and radical prostatectomy using a hybrid network: A single-center prospective...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Robotic Surgery
• Telecommunications

Background:

• Advances in robotics and telecommunications have led to a resurgence in telerobotic surgery (TRS).
• Evaluating the safety, feasibility, and outcomes of TRS is crucial for its clinical adoption.
• Hybrid networks offer a potential solution for reliable remote surgical operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and feasibility of telerobotic partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical prostatectomy (RP).
• To evaluate clinical outcomes and network performance during remote robotic surgeries.
• To determine the short-term functional recovery after telerobotic urological procedures.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-center study involving 13 patients (7 PN, 6 RP) using the Toumai® robotic system.
• Remote surgeries were conducted over 5G and fiber-optic hybrid networks, with the surgeon located 25 km away.
• Primary outcomes included successful completion without conversion; secondary outcomes involved operative metrics, network performance, and 3-month functional recovery.

Main Results:

• All 13 procedures were completed successfully without conversion or major complications.
• Median latency was 12 ms (fiber-optic) and 46 ms (5G); no major network disruptions occurred.
• Positive functional outcomes included stable renal function post-PN and early continence post-RP.

Conclusions:

• Telerobotic urological surgery over a hybrid network demonstrates early clinical feasibility and short-term safety.
• Successful remote procedures with stable communication support further investigation.
• This technology holds promise for expanding access to specialized surgical care.