Robotic telesurgery reaches remote patient in Brazil

João Barnabé Sobrinho, a 74-year-old retiree in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil, successfully underwent a robotic telesurgery performed by a medical team located nearly 2,700 kilometers away in Barretos, São Paulo.

João was the first patient in the Brazilian public health system, SUS, to receive this type of long-distance robotic surgery. The procedure, which took place on June 30, removed a malignant intestinal tumor discovered in its early stages, and also corrected a hernia.

João traveled to Porto Velho for the surgery but avoided a much longer trip to São Paulo, as the medical team used a robotic system installed locally. While doctors in Barretos remotely controlled the surgical robot, a medical team remained with João in Rondônia to immediately take over if any issues arose with the equipment or connection.

The success of this five-hour operation relied on a dedicated fiber optic network between the hospitals, ensuring real-time transmission of the surgeon’s movements to the robot. The system achieved a latency of only 62 milliseconds, meaning the robot responded to the doctor’s actions with minimal delay. Hospital de Amor plans to expand this technology within the SUS system, potentially bringing specialized care to patients in remote areas like the Amazon, and the project involves Brazil’s Ministries of Health and Communications.

João is now recovering well at home.