In a historic medical milestone, a prostate cancer patient in Angola underwent a robot-assisted prostatectomy while the surgeon — Dr. Vipul Patel — operated from Orlando, Florida, over 7,000 miles away. The procedure, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), marks the first-ever transcontinental robotic telesurgery trial
The patient, Fernando da Silva, was diagnosed in March and successfully treated in June using a high-precision robotic system that filters signals via fiber-optic cables between Orlando and Luanda, passing through Brazil. Remarkably, the system maintained a latency below 140 milliseconds — imperceptible to the surgeon.
Dr. Patel, Director of the Global Robotic Institute at AdventHealth, highlighted the humanitarian potential of the breakthrough: extending surgical expertise to underserved regions and even enabling interventions in ambulances or rural hospitals. He also emphasized that on-site backup teams were present in case of technical failure—ensuring patient safety at all times .
Dr. Patel serves as the the Executive Director of the Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS), an international organization of physicians dedicated to advancing robotic surgery through education and global collaboration to address its most complex challenges
The success revives a concept first demonstrated in 2001’s “Lindbergh Operation” — but with modern communications and surgical robotics now making long‑distance surgeries not just feasible, but potentially routine.
Dr. Patel plans to share data with the FDA and expand trials, envisioning future applications like remote stroke or cardiac interventions, where prompt, expert care could mean the difference between life and death theengineer.co.uk.
This landmark event doesn’t just redefine surgical possibilities — it challenges the global healthcare model by offering precision care across continents and hinting at a future where distance no longer limits access to top-tier medical expertise.
