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Retrospective analysis reveals high technical success and safety in 21 patients using 5G robotic surgery, suggesting enhanced training potential.
BACKGROUND: To address surgical resource scarcity in remote areas, we assessed the feasibility, safety, network stability, and training impact of 5G-enabled remote robot assisted laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 21 consecutive patients (Oct 2023-Sep 2025) undergoing remote surgery from Zhejiang to Xinjiang (3700 km) using the Toumai robot with a redundant 5G network. Primary endpoint was technical success; secondary endpoints included operative outcomes, complications, network metrics, and OSATS scores. RESULTS: Technical success was 100%. Procedures included partial nephrectomy (8), cholecystectomy (4), hysterectomy (3), prostatectomy (2), colorectal resection (2), and liver segmentectomy (2). Mean operative time 158.5 ± 42.0 min, console time 91.7 ± 26.6 min, blood loss 69.8 ± 40.2 mL. Two minor complications occurred. Mean round-trip latency 37.7 ± 5.6 ms, no packet loss. OSATS improved from 64.6 ± 7.1 to 87.9 ± 4.6. CONCLUSIONS: With redundant 5G and local backup, remote robotic surgery is feasible and safe and may facilitate training.
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Pan et al. (2026) studied this question.
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