Healing from 1,500 Km away: Aster Medcity executes Kerala’s first Tele-Robotic Surgery

KOCHI: Aster Medcity has marked a historic milestone by successfully performing Kerala's first-ever Tele-Robotic Urology Surgery, a breakthrough that proves complex surgeries can be performed safely through a remote robotic connection without direct physical contact. The procedure was a Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP), a highly advanced surgery utilised for the treatment of prostate cancer.

The patient, a 70-year-old man from Kollam, was admitted at Aster Medcity in Kochi, Kerala, while the operating surgeon, Dr. Kishore T.A., Senior Consultant - Uro Oncology & Transplant Surgery at Aster Medcity, conducted the entire two-hour procedure remotely from the Meril Academy in Vapi, Gujarat. This achievement marks a definitive first step toward long-distance telesurgery, opening up a future where expert surgeons can provide real-time assistance, mentoring, and emergency interventions across the globe, a breakthrough that promises to bring advanced surgical care to underserved regions, islands, military locations, and disaster zones where specialists are unavailable.

“This procedure proves how technology can bridge geographical distances, enabling patients to access world-class surgical expertise without the surgeon being physically present at the operating location. The future potential is enormous,” said Dr. Kishore T.A., Senior Consultant - Uro Oncology & Transplant Surgery at Aster Medcity.

The surgery was executed using the Meril Mizzo Robot. Dr. Kishore was seated at the surgeon console in Gujarat, controlling the robotic system through a secure, high-speed network connection that transmitted his movements in real time to the robotic arms operating on the patient in Kerala. To ensure absolute precision, teams spent weeks planning the procedure, conducting multiple technical simulations and connectivity tests to guarantee stable communication, minimal latency, and the seamless transmission of surgical commands.

Patient safety remained the highest priority throughout the landmark operation, backed by stringent contingency protocols. A fully qualified, experienced robotic surgical and anesthesia team was physically present at the patient's bedside in Kochi. The on-site team managed crucial responsibilities, including patient positioning, port placement, docking the robotic system, instrument exchange, and continuous monitoring. This bedside team was fully prepared to immediately take over the procedure in the unlikely event of a network interruption, ensuring zero compromise to patient safety.

Following the successful procedure, the patient experienced a smooth recovery, showing excellent stability, and was safely discharged just three days after the surgery.