12 hours ago
How a doctor in Florida performed surgery on a patient in Africa
A doctor in Florida successfully performed a prostatectomy on a patient in Africa using transcontinental robotic telesurgery.
Dr. Vipul Patel, medical director of the Global Robotic Institute at Orlando's Advent Health, operated on Fernando da Silva, 67, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March.
The surgery, performed in June, was a success and marked the first patient in a human clinical trial approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this technology.
Patel used fibre optic cables to bridge the thousands of miles, noting no perceptible delay in control, with a surgical team present with the patient as a backup.
The doctor highlighted the enormous humanitarian implications, suggesting the technology could benefit underserved areas globally and rural communities in the U.S.
