Robotic telesurgery hinges success on high-speed connectivity
ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES — Robotic telesurgery is improving healthcare by enabling surgeons to operate remotely, expanding access to specialized procedures. This Robotic Telesurgery is best suited for soft-tissue procedures such as kidney, prostate, liver, and lung surgeries.
Yet, its success depends on high-speed, low-latency networks to ensure precision and patient safety.
High-speed connectivity is non-negotiable for safe telesurgery
Real-time data transfer stands as essential in robotic telesurgery to maintain safety as it prevents risks from delay times.
“In order for telesurgery to be done safely, it needs to be done in a way for data transmission to be seamless,” said Dr. Sabino Zani, associate professor of surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery.
Advanced networks like 5G and fiber optics are critical to maintaining seamless high-resolution video and robotic responsiveness.
Zani notes that without these, surgeons may struggle and misinterpret remote conditions, increasing the risk of errors.
Telesurgery could bridge global healthcare gaps— with safeguards
The technology enables medical expertise to reach underserved areas and it offers worldwide improvements to surgical teaching methods.
Dr. Vipul Patel, a medical director at AdventHealth highlights its potential to democratize access, allowing surgeons to assist in remote locations or mentor peers in real time.
“To be able to deliver care to underserved areas and remote areas, and to train surgeons who wouldn’t otherwise have the ability, that changes healthcare,” Patel says.
However, regulatory and safety hurdles remain, including the need for backup surgical teams onsite in case of connectivity failures.
Patel stresses that clear protocols and redundancy measures must be established before widespread adoption can occur.
