First Long-Distance Robotic Prostate Removal in UK

0:00On March 6, a surgeon in London has made history with the United Kingdom's first long-distance robotic prostate removal. Professor Procar Dascupta operated from the London Clinic on 62-year-old Paul Bucston, who was 1500 miles away in Gibraltar. The procedure used a high-tech robot with a three-dimensional high-definition camera and four arms controlled over fiber optic cables with just a 0.06 second delay. Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, has only one main hospital, so patients with complex needs often travel far for care. This trial led Bucston's stay local, skipping long flights and waiting lists after his prostate cancer diagnosis right after Christmas. Back-up teams in Gibraltar stood ready, but the connection held steady throughout. Bucston called it a straightforward choice to join and help pioneer the tech. He felt well cared for and says he's doing great since the February 11th operation. Dascupta described it as feeling almost like being right there in the room.

1:03This is just the start of trials, with the second case on the 52-year-old man in early March and another set for March 14th. That one will stream live to 20,000 top urologists at a big European conference. Past tests included a transatlantic robotic procedure on a donated body, proving the distance was no barrier. Remote surgery like this could cut travel costs and hassles, bringing expert care to far off spots. As the National Health Service ramps up robotic operations toward half a million a year by 2035, breakthroughs here point to real change. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead. Ahead.