Robotic Telesurgery: Benefits Beyond Barriers

The idea of robotic telesurgery dates back to the 1970s when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) developed a project to utilize remotely controlled robots to perform surgeries on astronauts [1]. The history of robotic surgery begins in 1985, when Kwoh et al used a robot Puma 200, for performing neurosurgical biopsies with greater precision [2]. This was soon followed by the introduction of PROBOT in 1988, a robotic system for ultrasound guided prostatic resection [3]. A major breakthrough in the field of robotic surgery came with the performance of the first transatlantic telesurgical procedure (Operation Lindbergh) by a surgeon in the United States operating on a patient in France. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on a 68-year-old lady in Strasbourg, France by Professor Marescaux utilising a Zeus robotic system located in New York, USA. There were no complications during the procedure and the patient was discharged 2 days later [4]. Since then, telesurgery has been carried out in multiple locations around the globe with successful outcomes.