Historic study explores whether robotic telesurgery could bring specialized surgical care closer to home

ORLANDO, Fla. - After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Mark, 66, chose to participate in a clinical research study evaluating an investigational robotic telesurgery system.

On Oct. 25, that decision placed him at the center of an important milestone in surgical research when he underwent an investigational robotic prostatectomy connecting two AdventHealth locations in Central Florida.

The procedure was conducted under a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE). The IDE authorizes the clinical investigation; it does not constitute FDA approval or clearance of the robotic telesurgery system for this use, nor does it establish that the system is safe or effective.

Vipul Patel, MD, founder and medical director of the Global Robotics Institute at AdventHealth Celebration and principal investigator of the study, operated from AdventHealth Celebration. Co-principal investigator Marcio Moschovas, MD, was at the patient's bedside with the surgical team at AdventHealth Minneola, approximately 35 miles away, and was providing onsite support and the ability to intervene if necessary.

"For generations, access to highly specialized care has often depended on where a patient lives," Dr. Patel said. "This study allows us to evaluate whether telesurgery could one day help reduce geographic barriers to specialized treatment. Important questions about safety, effectiveness and technical performance remain under investigation."

Patel has performed more than 21,000 robotic prostatectomies. For this study, he remotely operated using the investigational Toumai® surgical system from MicroPort MedBot. This phase of research follows 10 investigational telesurgery procedures conducted between Orlando and Luanda, Angola, and brings the research into the U.S. healthcare environment for further evaluation.

Telesurgery combines robotic technology with communications infrastructure that allows a surgeon to control surgical instruments while physically separated from the patient.

Although robotic telesurgery has been investigated internationally, published evidence to date has not documented a robotic telesurgery procedure performed between two U.S. locations. This completed procedure represents one case in an ongoing investigation and does not establish general clinical performance or support broader conclusions without further study.

"Our mission is to extend whole-person healing and hope to every person we care for regardless of where they live," said Doug Harcombe, CEO of AdventHealth's Central Florida South Market. "That commitment drives us to explore new ways to connect patients and families with the next generation of care. By expanding access to leading expertise and advanced technology, we can ensure more patients receive the care they need in their own community. As we continue to explore what's possible, our focus remains on creating better outcomes, strengthening our communities, and extending healing and hope to more families."

"This research represents an important next step in the clinical investigation of telesurgery," said Kenneth J. Palmer, MD, executive director of the Global Robotics Institute at AdventHealth Celebration. "Conducting the study between two Florida hospitals allows researchers to evaluate the operational, technical and clinical considerations involved in an investigational use of robotic telesurgery in the U.S. healthcare environment."

Researchers are evaluating surgical outcomes, safety, effectiveness, network performance, cybersecurity, alarms, contingency performance, operational workflows and other safeguards required for remote robotic surgery in a hospital.

Robotic prostatectomy carries risks associated with surgery, including bleeding, infection, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, scar tissue, urinary leakage, hernia and the possibility of conversion to an open procedure.

Telesurgery adds potential risks, such as equipment or connectivity failure, cybersecurity threats and the need for the on-site surgical team to take over. Backup systems, contingency plans and trained surgical staff were in place at the patient's location. These risks and safeguards remain under investigation and evaluation.

"We are entering a new era of surgery," Dr. Patel said. "The future will be defined by how we combine human expertise, robotics and technology to push the boundaries of what is possible for patients around the world."