BANGKOK/CHENGDU, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Operating a surgical console in China, a surgeon successfully performed a gallstone operation on a patient in Thailand -- a landmark feat made possible by remotely guided robotic arms across a distance of nearly 2,000 km.
This is the first remote robotic surgery between China and Thailand, as cross-border medical partnerships help turn transnational surgery into reality.
The breakthrough was jointly conducted by medical teams from West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Thailand's Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, using the Toumai surgical robot developed by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot Group.
The patient, a 51-year-old Thai woman, had suffered from persistent right upper abdominal pain due to biliary tract stones, compounded by hypertension, diabetes and other underlying conditions, rendering her case relatively complex.
Following a comprehensive joint assessment by medical professionals from both countries, the plan for remote robotic surgery was finalized.
Globally, more than 800 remote robotic surgeries have been successfully completed, with the longest-distance case stretching halfway across the globe between China and Brazil.
Before the operation, Thai surgeon Bhattrabhorn Petposri completed systematic training at West China Hospital and passed expert assessments, earning a formal qualification to perform remote robotic procedures.
Recalling the experience, she said there was barely any noticeable time lag during the surgery. The surgical field of view delivered by the robot was comparable to an on-site operating room, she noted, with smooth and precise control throughout the procedure.
Wiwatpiyawong Rungrawan, managing director of Tang Ming Medtech, which introduced the Toumai robot into Thailand, noted that the robot has already been adopted by four hospitals across the country.
She said that their next step is to deploy surgical robots along with supporting systems in northern and southern Thailand, enabling remote surgical connections between Bangkok and cities such as Chiang Mai and Songkhla.
Nutthapong Wongwiwat, director-general of the Department of Medical Services at Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, witnessed the landmark moment in Thailand-China medical cooperation at the hospital.
He said the success of the surgery depended on close collaboration and seamless coordination between the two medical teams. The application of remote surgical robots, he noted, is expected to narrow disparities in medical services and particularly benefit patients in remote regions.
Thailand will further advance medical cooperation with China and the international community, he said, aiming to achieve higher-level cross-border medical connectivity and enable quality medical resources to overcome geographical barriers.
In a video address, Pattana Promphat, Thailand's Minister of Public Health, said the joint application of remote surgical robots for gallstone treatment is expected to lift Thailand's medical standards to an international level, while offering valuable experience for the future application of remote robotic surgery across Thailand.
A single purchase
