ORLANDO, June 18, 2025
Remote Surgery: A Medical First
A Florida doctor performed a groundbreaking prostate cancer surgery on a patient in Africa using a robot, marking a significant advancement in healthcare.
- A doctor in Florida used a robot to perform surgery on a patient in Angola, Africa.
- The surgery, a prostatectomy, was successful.
- The technology could expand access to care in underserved areas.
Can you imagine a surgeon in Florida operating on a patient thousands of miles away in Africa? That’s exactly what Dr. Vipul Patel, medical director of the Global Robotic Institute at Orlando’s Advent Health, did in June, performing a prostatectomy on Fernando da Silva of Angola.
Da Silva, 67, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March. The successful surgery was reported by ABC News in an exclusive story on Tuesday. According to Patel, prostate cancer is prevalent in Africa, where effective treatments and monitoring have been lacking in the past.
A Leap in Medical Technology
The use of a robot for surgery isn’t new, but the distance is. Patel and his team have been working on this technology for two years, traveling the world to find the right equipment.
Da Silva was the first patient in a human clinical trial approved by the Food and Drug Administration to test this technology. Surgeons have utilized advanced robotic systems for complex procedures. However, they usually operate the machines close to their patients.
Patel employed fiber optic cables to perform the surgery remotely. He noted, “There was no perceptible delay in my brain.” His surgical team was present with Da Silva in the operating room as a safety measure.
“We made sure we had plan A, B, C, and D. I always have my team where the patient is,” Patel said. If any issues had arisen with the telecommunications, the team was prepared to take over and complete the surgery safely.
Future of Healthcare
The humanitarian implications of this technology are vast, according to Patel. It could benefit underserved areas worldwide, as well as rural communities within the U.S.
He envisioned emergency room physicians utilizing this technology. Remote interventions could be performed even in ambulances. Patel plans to submit the surgery data to the FDA, with the hope of conducting more telesurgeries in the future.
