In the winter along the Neckar River, Heidelberg's old town was adorned in snow, providing a fitting backdrop for an academic atmosphere rich in culture and freedom. The "Semi-Live 2024" International Urology Conference and the CGAU Academic Annual Meeting between China and Germany were successfully held from January 18 to 20 in Heidelberg, a hub of European academia. Top urological experts from over 10 countries, including Germany, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, India, and Egypt, attended. Notable participants included Professor Markus Hohenfellner, Chair of Urology at the University of Heidelberg, Professor Vito Pansadoro, Chair of the European Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery Challenge Congress, Professor Richard Hautmann, pioneer of the "orthotopic ileal neobladder procedure," Professor Sascha Pahernik, Director of Urology at Nuremberg Hospital, Professor Liqiu Zhou from Peking University, and Professor Shuo Wang from The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

Building on a series of remote animal surgery studies and small-scale clinical trials, the surgical demonstration at the conference featured Academician Xu Zhang from the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Academician Zhang operated a remote surgery robot system, developed with entirely independent intellectual property rights, from Beijing, successfully performing a radical prostatectomy on a patient 3,000 kilometers away in Sanya, Hainan. During the operation, Academician Zhang utilized the high-definition 3D view provided by the remote surgery system, employing flexible wristed instruments to precisely separate anatomical structures, free the prostate using an intrafascial technique, and completely preserve the neurovascular bundles (NVB). Post-operative reconstruction techniques, including posterior and anterior reconstruction and solid urethral anastomosis, were employed to achieve excellent urinary control and sexual function recovery.

This surgery marked the first appearance of Chinese remote surgery at an international academic conference, showcasing China’s leading remote surgical technology and prowess. Despite the ultra-long distance of over 3,000 kilometers, the lead surgeon reported no difference compared to local surgeries, with no noticeable delay. The instrument switching, activation of energy sources, and interactions between the lead surgeon and assistants were seamless. The surgery was completed successfully in less than one hour. Domestic and international scholars attending the conference highly praised China’s achievements in remote surgery, calling it the “Highlight” of the event.

World Robotic Surgery Society Annual Meeting

Professor Xin Ma from Academician Zhang’s Team Demonstrates Remote Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

On February 3-4, 2024, the World Robotic Surgery Society (SRS) Annual Meeting was held in Orlando, Florida, USA. At the invitation of Vipual Patel, Chair of the World Robotic Surgery Society, Professor Xin Ma, Director of the Urology Academic Committee of the Medical Department, and part of Academician Zhang’s team, performed a robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy between Beijing and Harbin, spanning a distance of 1,500 kilometers. The surgery took about one hour, with no noticeable delay throughout the process, which proceeded smoothly.

Following the demonstration, the experts in attendance engaged in intense discussions, exchanging views on critical issues such as surgical delay, safety, learning curves, and the progress of clinical research in remote surgery. The achievements of China in remote surgery were met with admiration and congratulations. The meeting, attended by top robotic surgery experts from over 20 countries, is one of the most influential academic gatherings in the field of surgery.

In November 2023, Professor Vipual Patel visited Beijing to assess the progress of China’s remote surgery research and personally performed a remote surgery operation. He highly commended the remote surgery system, recognizing it as a “game changer” and stating that the research led by Academician Xu Zhang would revolutionize the field of surgery. In light of this, a dedicated remote surgery session was arranged at the SRS meeting to explore the development and future of remote surgery, gathering insights for its further advancement.

Academician Xu Zhang remarked, “Remote surgery is one of the key directions for the future development of surgery. China has made remarkable achievements in this field, attracting worldwide attention. With further improvements in clinical and fundamental research systems, remote surgery will undoubtedly reshape the surgical landscape in China and worldwide, extending high-quality surgical assistance to wherever it is needed, benefiting countless patients.