US doctor uses robot to perform surgery on patient in Africa
In June, Dr Vipul Patel in Florida successfully performed a remote prostatectomy on Fernando da Silva in Angola using robotic telesurgery.
Da Silva, 67, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March and underwent the surgery as part of a clinical trial approved by the FDA.
Dr Patel used fiber optic cables to operate the robot from thousands of miles away, with a surgical team present.
Dr Patel noted that prostate cancer is prevalent in Africa, where monitoring and treatment have been limited, and that this technology could address underserved areas globally.
Dr Patel aims to submit the surgery data to the FDA to facilitate future telesurgeries, highlighting the potential for remote interventions in emergency situations and rural communities.
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