Robot performs surgery across 1,500 miles with just 48-millisecond lag

A surgeon in London successfully performed a remote prostatectomy on a patient located 1,500 miles away in Gibraltar, marking a significant milestone in long-distance robotic surgery. On March 4, Prokar Dasgupta, head of the robotic center at The London Clinic, used the Toumai Robotic System to remove the prostate of 62-year-old Paul Buxton, who was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer at St Bernard’s Hospital in Gibraltar. The operation was enabled by a secure, high-speed fiber-optic network built by Presidio, which maintained a minimal 48-millisecond lag between the surgeon’s console in London and the robot’s actions in Gibraltar, ensuring real-time control. This successful telesurgery demonstrates the potential for advanced connectivity and robotic technology to expand access to specialized surgical care across long distances, reducing the need for patients to travel to major medical centers. Buxton, who initially expected to travel to the UK for surgery, chose to participate in the trial instead, highlighting patient willingness to embrace