Indonesia made medical history on Friday, August 30, 2024, by successfully performing the first remote telerobotics surgery in Southeast Asia.
By connecting expert doctors in Bali and patients in R.S.C.M. Jakarta, the surgery, which treated a kidney cyst patient, proved that robot-assisted technology and 5G internet connection can overcome 1,200 km geographical distance and provide wider access to quality healthcare.
In the remote surgery process, it is known that the doctor was in Bali while the patient was in Jakarta, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. The doctors successfully performed this telerobotics surgery on Friday, August 30, 2024.
The first telerobotics operation in Indonesia was a success. With an operation duration of about 2 hours, starting at 08.30 WIB until 10.00 WIB, Dr Supriyanto, the President Director of R.S.C.M., stated that this technology is not only efficient in overcoming distance but also has the potential to speed up the patient’s recovery process.
A surgeon was finally able to perform the surgery by relying on wireless network technology. A surgeon from I.G.N.G. Ngurah Rai Hospital in Bali successfully performed this surgery, treating a kidney cyst patient who was being treated at R.S.C.M. Jakarta.
The success of this remote telerobotics surgery is a major historical event, as it was the first time it was performed in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Urology doctors at I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Hospital, Bali, were able to operate a robotic hand with high precision in kidney cyst surgery for a patient at R.S.C.M. Jakarta via a 5G internet connection.
Another Telerobotics Remote Surgery Success in Prostate Cancer Patient
Following the successful kidney surgery on August 30, the robotic urology team performed another telerobotics surgery on a 58-year-old patient with prostate cancer.
“After successfully performing 1,200 kilometres of telerobotics surgery on an R.S.C.M. patient through console control at Ngoerah Hospital on August 30, 2024, Indonesian Urology has also conducted a Robotic Radical Prostatectomy trial at Ngoerah Hospital on September 2, 2024,” said the President Director of I. G. N. Ngoerah Hospital. Dr. I Wayan Sudana, M. Kes as reported by Kompas, September 5, 2024.
According to Sudana, the surgery, which lasted for approximately 5 hours, was performed robotically. Robotics have the advantage of being more precise with small incisions, reducing blood loss and allowing for faster surgical procedures and recovery.
