On July 19 (Central European Time), an 80-year-old patient (pseudonym: Mr. Wu) lay calmly in an operating room at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH) of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Beneath the steady beeps of monitors, a medical milestone unfolded: surgeons were removing a liver tumor complicated by two decades of chronic hepatitis B, open surgery 14 years prior, and recent radiation therapy.

Ten thousand kilometers away in Strasbourg, France, Professor Liang Xiao operated a robotic console during the Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) annual meeting. In real time, four agile robotic arms—acting as steel fingers with 360-degree rotation—precisely dissected abdominal adhesions while navigating intricate vasculature in Hangzhou. A high-definition camera magnified the 3.5 cm tumor on screens in France.

Hemostasis achieved. Drainage tube placed. Procedure complete. Professor Liang's commands transmitted clearly to Hangzhou via audio. Across time zones, two teams executed textbook-perfect maneuvers. Fifty minutes later, applause erupted in Strasbourg as the tumor was fully excised. The world's first transcontinental robotic-assisted liver cancer resection was complete. Mr. Wu recovered smoothly and was discharged within days.

Beyond Technology: Precision and Trust Across Continents

Facing an urgent clinical need while his primary surgeon attended an overseas conference, the patient and medical team chose SRRSH's cutting-edge robotic system to seize the optimal treatment window—grounded in mutual trust. The 10,000-km distance demanded flawless network stability for real-time control, while the liver's complex vascular-biliary network required exceptional surgical skill and adaptability.

Through meticulous preparation and teamwork, the two teams in China and France  overcame uncertainties. Preoperative planning included comprehensive liver assessments, scientific resection mapping, and remote-surgery consent. Intraoperatively, Professor Liang flawlessly executed adhesion dissection, tumor resection, hemostasis, and wound management. The robotic system maintained operational stability with crystal-clear imaging and uninterrupted communication. Nearly 20,000 global experts at SRS applauded the Chinese-developed robot's performance and Professor Liang's masterful technique, composure, and precision.

Performing transoceanic ultra-long-distance surgery was once unimaginable, Professor Liang remarked. This success reinforces my confidence in telesurgery, domestically-developed robotics, and 5G. I believe our technology will expand global healthcare access.

Homegrown Innovation: Advancing Healthcare Equity

As an early adopter of robotic surgery, SRRSH has spearheaded China's autonomous robotic R&D. In February 2023, its team in Hangzhou collaborated with its Alaer Campus in Xinjiang to complete China's first 5G-powered remote gallbladder resection using a fully self-developed robotic system, pioneering a “hyper-remote surgery” model. Subsequent milestones—including the world's first 5G remote left lateral liver resection, right hemihepatectomy, and spleen-preserving pancreatic tumor resection—validated surgery's capacity to transcend geography.

Advancements in telesurgery are transforming robots from “tools” into “platforms” and extending minimally invasive techniques to underserved regions.Under President Cai Xiujun's leadership, SRRSH has institutionalized cross-campus remote robotic surgery and issued China's first Expert Consensus on 5G Remote Robotic Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery (2025). Partnerships with grassroots hospitals in Xinjiang, Zhejiang's Jiangshan, and beyond enable multi-scenario telemedicine—from robotic operations to e-consultations and AI-assisted ultrasounds—effectively bridging urban-rural healthcare gaps.

Soon, patients in remote borderlands, mountains, and islands will be able to access elite care without arduous travel as China's surgical robotics prowess strides onto the global stage.

Source: Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine