Featured Image Credit: ABC News
Topics: Technology, Health, US News, Real Life
Mia Williams
A surgeon who operated on a patient from 7,000 miles away became the first doctor to perform remote, robotic surgery - describing the breakthrough as 'enormous'.
Dr. Vipul Patel has performed tens of thousands of procedures that involve cutting away cancer. But he's never done it remotely, 7,000 miles away from his patient.
The surgeon has now made history after becoming the first doctor to operate on a patient remotely, using brand new technology that has been 'two years in the making'.
Fernando da Silva, who lives in the African nation of Angola, also became the first patient to be operated on from such a distance.
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He was diagnosed with prostate cancer back in March, but could never have predicted how his surgery was going to play out.
Dr Patel performed his surgery from Orlando, Florida, in a groundbreaking trial, with all necessary safety precautions taken.
Speaking to ABC News, who had exclusive access to the procedure, Dr Patel said: "We've been working on this really for two years.
"We traveled the globe, looking at the right technologies."
According to experts, the multimillion-dollar robot has enhanced visuals, as well as nimble controls.
It also allows for the procedure to be less invasive, more precise, and generally comes with a faster recovery time for the patient.
Speaking of the seismic impact this could have on health care around the world, Dr Patel said: "I think the humanitarian implications are enormous.
"Internationally, obviously, there's so many underserved areas of the world."
Patel also noted that the technology could be used across America, once fully developed.
He added: "Emergency room physicians will have technology that can be remotely accessible to surgeons, maybe even in the ambulance, where people can get remote interventions if they can't make it to the hospital."
The surgeon also took safety precautions in the event of problems with 'telecommunications'.
"We made sure we had plan A, B, C, and D. I always have my team where the patient is."
And if anything were to go wrong, "The team would just take over and finish the case and do it safely," he said.
Dr Patel's plans are now to submit the data back to the necessary teams, in the hopes that he will be granted permission to perform more telesurgeries.
Riffing on a famous line from the past, he added: "It was a small step for a surgeon, but it was huge leap for health care."