Mumbai: Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Mumbai has achieved a historic national milestone by successfully performing India’s first ...
Mumbai: Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani
Hospital Mumbai has achieved a historic national milestone by successfully
performing India’s first international remote robotic surgeries on two patients
in Mumbai, with the operating surgeon Dr. T. B.
Yuvaraja, Director (Group), Uro-Oncology and Robotic
Surgery, Kokilaben Hospital, located in Shanghai, over 5,000 kilometres away.
This marks the first clinical application in India across borders of the
Toumai® Remote Robotic Surgery System following approval by the Central Drugs
Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and represents a significant advancement
in the country’s remote surgical capabilities.
The landmark procedures were performed on two patients in Mumbai and
included a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and a robot-assisted partial
nephrectomy. The surgeries were conducted remotely by a specialist surgeon
located over 5,000 kilometres away, demonstrating the safety, precision, and
reliability of long-distance robotic intervention for complex urological
procedures. Both surgeries were performed remotely using the Toumai® system,
which is the only robotic surgical platform currently being US FDA Study
Approved for use in telesurgery. The procedures successfully demonstrated
real-time surgical control and high precision for uncompromised patient safety
despite the vast geographical distance.
The international surgeries were enabled by high-speed, stable data
transmission and multiple safety-assurance technologies. The system ensured
real-time surgical control with ultra-low bidirectional latency of just 132
milliseconds, allowing the procedures to be performed with the same precision,
safety, and reliability as conventional on-site robotic surgery. The ultra-low
latency ensured seamless instrument movement, precise dissection, and reliable
execution throughout the procedures.
Dr. T. B. Yuvaraja, Director (Group), Uro-Oncology and Robotic Surgery,
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospitals, who performed the surgeries remotely, has
an experience of over 4,100 robotic procedures. Commenting on the achievement,
Dr. T. B. Yuvaraja said, “Remote robotic surgery has the potential to transform
access to high-quality surgical care. Successfully performing these procedures
across two large nations reinforces our commitment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai
Ambani Hospital to innovation, safety, and excellence in patient care. This
achievement also opens up new avenues for offering world class treatment across
India and world over.”
The Toumai® system performed exceptionally during the procedure with the
remote control remarkably smooth, stable, and precise. It allowed the surgeon
to carry out complex procedures with the same confidence and accuracy as an
in-person robotic surgery. This milestone demonstrates that remote robotic
surgery is not only feasible, but safe and clinically effective. This major
breakthrough signals the beginning of a new era in telesurgery in India, where
geography no longer limits access to world-class surgical expertise and
technology-driven healthcare can reach patients wherever they are.
With this national first, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital has taken
a decisive step towards redefining surgical care delivery. By enabling surgical
operations across a distance of over 5,000 kilometres, the Toumai® system has
set a new benchmark for remote and smart surgery. The success of these two
procedures not only validates the potential of telesurgery but also provides
valuable clinical experience for the future development of remote healthcare
systems in India and beyond.
Dr. Santosh Shetty, CEO & Executive Director, Kokilaben Dhirubhai
Ambani Hospital said, “Being the first hospital in India to successfully
perform intercontinental remote robotic surgeries following CDSCO approval of
the Toumai system is a proud moment for our institution and for Indian
healthcare. This landmark achievement reinforces Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani
Hospital’s leadership in adopting cutting-edge medical technologies and shaping
the future of surgical care in India. By combining advanced robotics with
secure digital infrastructure, the hospital has demonstrated how specialist
surgical expertise can be extended across continents without compromising
outcomes. This achievement reflects our long-standing commitment to innovation,
patient safety, and clinical excellence. It opens new possibilities for
expanding access to advanced surgical care, particularly for patients in remote
and underserved regions.”
The successful execution of these procedures was made possible through
close collaboration between multidisciplinary clinical teams including the
full-time specialists at Kokilaben Hospital, hospital staff, technology
partners, and engineering teams in both Mumbai and Shanghai. Their coordinated
efforts ensured uninterrupted connectivity, rigorous safety protocols, and
flawless clinical execution.
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