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| Hue Central Hospital leaders directly operate the robotic system to perform remote surgical procedures in a simulated setting |
Under the direction of Prof. Pham Nhu Hiep, MD, PhD, Director of Hue Central Hospital, the hospital's team of specialists remotely operated the surgical robotic system at Van Hanh General Hospital to conduct training and guide simulated robotic surgery procedures at Hue Central Hospital. The two sites were nearly 1.000 km apart.
In Hue, surgeons' movements were transmitted over a dedicated 5G network with low latency, alongside high-definition 3D imaging. The robotic system at Ho Chi Minh City site received the signals in real time and accurately carried out surgical maneuvers, including dissection, cutting, cauterization, and suturing. The simulation session was coordinated online by Associate Professor Nguyen Thanh Xuan, MD, PhD, and Dr. Ho Van Linh, together with Hue Central Hospital's specialized technical team.
A range of robotic surgical procedures were performed remotely, including cholecystectomy, partial hepatectomy, gastrojejunostomy, and partial and radical nephrectomy. In addition, trainees had the opportunity to practice other robotic surgical techniques in the simulation operating room at Hue Central Hospital, reinforcing their theoretical knowledge and improving their technical skills. The program attracted the participation of the leadership teams of both hospitals, along with numerous specialists and surgeons. It included 25 in-person trainees and nearly 200 participants attending online.
Around the world, telesurgery over distances of thousands of kilometers is gradually becoming feasible thanks to advances in science, technology, and telecommunications infrastructure. Hue Central Hospital's successful implementation of this program opens up new possibilities for training, professional support, technical transfer, and specialist guidance for hospitals across Vietnam and the wider region. The program's success further demonstrates Hue Central Hospital's clinical expertise, its ability to master advanced surgical technologies, and its role as a center for specialized medical training. It also lays the groundwork for the hospital to research and develop a remote surgical support network, helping bring advanced medical techniques closer to patients throughout the country.