Peking University, April 27, 2022: On April 10, 2022, in the operating theatre of the Second Inpatient Department of PKU First Hospital, Prof. Li Xuesong was performing a pyeloplasty (surgical reconstruction of a part of the kidney) while Prof. Ji Zhigang was observing and monitoring the whole operation, 6 kilometers away in the hospital’s telemedicine center. During the operation, Prof. Ji took over key surgical steps by remotely controlling the surgical robot arm. For Prof. Ji, the 3D high-definition video on his screen was clear and smooth, the robotic arms responded without delay, and the interaction between the two doctors was almost as though they were both physically present. For the first time in the world, real-time interactive teaching and guidance of a surgical operation were successfully conducted remotely using cross-operator, cross-domain 5G-based technology.


A New Model of Cross-Operator, Cross-Domain Collaboration

The 5G network is a new generation of broadband mobile communication technology well known for its high speed, low latency and higher connection density. Expanding the application of 5G technology in the healthcare industry will be instrumental in the promotion of telemedicine.

Today, the leaders of China’s telecommunication industry include China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. As such, the development of telemedicine will inevitably encounter cross-operator situations. This is why Peking University Hospital worked towards leveraging a 5G network for its high-speed and low-latency advantages, while integrating it with a dedicated private-line that works on cross-domain, cross-operator transmission channels. This allows for uninterrupted, synchronized, and a high-definition projection of the surgery for the remote surgeon.

This new model of cross-operator, cross-domain collaboration is well adapted to the needs of the country today, where hospitals across China may be served by different telecommunication operators and have different levels of medical technology, medical expertise, or treatment efficiency.

A Breakthrough in Remote Real-Time Supervision

Telesurgery has come a long way. Previously in the use of single-console remote surgery, many problems that were encountered such as ethical safety and medical responsibility. If a sudden abnormality or technical malfunction occurred when the chief surgeon was far away from the patient, the surgeon would not be able to immediately take over the surgery, thus increasing the medical risk of the patient.

This recent remote surgery conducted by Prof. Li and Prof. Ji adopts a multi-point, collaborative, real-time, remote teaching model. During the initial learning phase for robotic or complex surgeries, remote medical experts can provide real-time supervision and teaching of key steps of the surgery with reduced medical risk: in the case where the network is interrupted or the remote console fails, the local doctor can continue to use the local console to operate the surgical robot to complete the surgery. This also increases the success rate of surgery, while enabling local physicians to better learn through hands-on experience.


A Model for the distribution of Medical Resources with Technology

This model of remote surgery greatly reduces the risk of remote surgery, especially relative to the use of single remote console robots for remote surgery. This model also helps to solve the problem of uneven distribution of highly trained and experienced medical experts as a result of regional development differences: these experts can now supervise and teach local doctors through remote surgery. By making full use of emerging technologies and new processes to improve the delivery of medicine across the nation, this is well in line with the goals of the “Healthy China 2030” strategy to work towards the equal distribution of medical resources to the grassroots.

Written by: Su Huangyi
Edited by: June Tan Rui Min
Photo Credit to: Pandaily
Source: PKU News (Chinese)