Florida surgeon performs remote prostate cancer surgery using robotic technology across 7,000 miles
The patient, a 67-year-old man diagnosed with prostate cancer in March, underwent a prostatectomy — a surgery to remove all or part of the prostate, often used to treat prostate cancer and improve survival outcomes. Increasingly, these procedures are carried out using robotic systems due to their precision and reduced recovery times.
Although robotic-assisted surgeries are now common, this was the first time such a procedure was performed remotely across continents. Dr. Vipul Patel, medical director of the Global Robotic Institute at Advent Health in Orlando, operated the robot from Florida while the patient remained in Angola, supported by an on-site medical team.
Patel and his team had spent two years preparing for the procedure. 'We traveled the globe, looking at the right technologies,' he told ABC News. He emphasized that contingency plans were in place and a full team was stationed with the patient. 'We made sure we had plan A, B, C, and D. I always have my team where the patient is,' he said.
The surgery went smoothly, without complications. Patel now plans to submit clinical data from the operation to the FDA in hopes of conducting similar procedures in the future.
He believes this breakthrough could reshape healthcare delivery. 'Emergency room physicians will have technology that can be remotely accessible to surgeons, maybe even in the ambulance,' Patel said, highlighting the potential for life-saving interventions when hospital access is limited.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Red Cross ‘deeply alarmed' by intensifying hostilities in Gaza
GENEVA: The Red Cross said it was deeply worried Tuesday as Israel's military expanded its operations in Gaza, warning that the Palestinian territory's few remaining functional medical facilities were already overwhelmed. 'The International Committee of the Red Cross is deeply alarmed by the intensifying hostilities in Gaza City and Jabaliya, which have reportedly caused dozens of deaths and injuries among civilians over the past 36 hours,' the ICRC said in a statement. The increased operations came after days of mounting calls for a ceasefire, with US President Donald Trump among those urging Israel to strike a new deal to halt the war and bring home the hostages still held in Gaza. Israel's campaign to destroy the Palestinian group Hamas has raged on unabated, however, with Gaza's civil defence agency reporting Israeli forces killed at least 20 people on Tuesday. Hamas says open to talks as Israel keeps up Gaza strikes 'The intensification of hostilities comes as Gaza's already-decimated healthcare system struggles to absorb a relentless surge in critical cases,' the ICRC said. 'Nearly all public hospitals in Gaza are shut down or gutted by months of hostilities and restrictions on the entry of critical medicine, supplies and equipment.' It said the medical facilities that continue to function – including the Red Cross Field Hospital – were overwhelmed and running 'dangerously low' on essential supplies, including fuel, and even body bags. 'This severely compromises their ability to treat the wounded or ensure dignified management of the dead,' the Geneva-based ICRC said. Furthermore, it said widespread evacuation orders were pushing Gazans into an ever-shrinking space and create panic among civilians, and hamper the ability of first responders to reach those in need. 'The ICRC urgently reiterates its call for the protection of medical personnel and medical facilities in Gaza,' the organisation said, adding that they should not be deprived of resources. And it insisted that evacuated civilians should have satisfactory conditions of shelter, hygiene, health, safety and food. 'Many people in Gaza right now are injured, sick, or have disabilities. They are often unable to comply with evacuation orders. Constant care must be taken to spare them,' the ICRC said.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Medical/dental education: PMDC, ACCME developing CPD regulatory system
ISLAMABAD: To bring national medical/dental education system at par with the global standards and recognition of Pakistan's healthcare profession globally, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), in collaboration with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) has started developing a continuing professional development (CPD) regulatory system. In this connection, the PMDC held two and a half day strategy sessions focusing on developing a regulatory framework for CPD in Pakistan during a high-level ACCME delegation visit to the PMDC. Participants from leading institutions attended the sessions engaged in extensive discussions and strategic deliberations, marking a significant step forward in elevating CPD practices in Pakistan. The participants discussed the global trends and evolving landscape of healthcare at length. The event was designed as an intensive, interactive learning experience aimed at developing and implementing a future-ready, globally-recognised CPD regulatory framework in the country. The sessions were facilitated by Dr Rizwan Taj, president of the PMDC, Dr Graham Mc Mahon, president and CEO of the ACCME, Dr Dion Richetti, vice president of Accreditation ACCME, and International Consultant for Collaborations and Recognition, who brought rich insights from both local and international perspectives. The ACCME is a Chicago-based non-profit organisation that accredits organisations offering continuing medical education in the US and around the world. The new evidence-based CPD system will enhance the quality of patient care and the country's medical education system in Pakistan. It will help to increase the employability and recognition of its medical and healthcare workforce in the region and globally. The ACCME and PMDC leadership team also met with Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister for National Health Services and Regulations and other senior officials. As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen medical services, the minister expressed full support during the meeting with the ACCME delegation for the betterment of the country. The PMDC has been working diligently with local and international partners to design and implement global best practices in the country. In support of the minister's vision to enhance and expedite medical and health services nationwide, the session focused on key strategies and initiatives. Dr Taj said the PMDC will implement a nationally-integrated CPD system, ushering in a new era of professional excellence and global alignment in healthcare education. The implementation of a globally-recognised CPD system marks a transformative milestone for healthcare in Pakistan. A structured and evidence-based CPD framework will not only elevate the standards of medical practice but also ensure that healthcare professionals remain competent, current, and patient-focused throughout their careers. He added that this plan will lead to improved patient outcomes, strengthen public trust in the healthcare system, and will support Pakistan's medical education standards with international benchmarks. It will also significantly enhance the professional mobility, employability, and recognition of Pakistani healthcare professionals both regionally and globally. Dr Taj said 'the PMDC is proud to lead this strategic transformation in partnership with the ACCME and other esteemed national and international stakeholders. We remain committed to developing a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and excellence in healthcare delivery across the country,' he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
'The Wild West' of weight loss
In what she calls the "wild west" of obesity medicines, Missouri-based Amy Spencer is a pioneer. Each week the mother of two injects herself with weight-loss drugs, two of which are in clinical trials and not yet approved for sale by the US Food and Drug Administration. One comes mixed with tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly's Zepbound. Spencer, 50, is not part of any drug trial but mixes the cocktails herself, using tiny doses that she believes are safe. The total cost is about $50 monthly, as little as one-tenth of what she would expect to pay their makers for full treatment. The drugs – glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight-loss medicines – are manufactured and shipped from China, according to the packaging. She orders them through online vendors. Spencer belongs to a fast-growing group of Americans turning to what many call the "grey market" for obesity medicines, bringing cheap active ingredients from China often labelled as for research purposes, according to import data and social media postings. It's a trend that drugmakers Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy, say is dangerous as well as illicit. Reuters tracked online forums and interviewed seven people who said they bought obesity medicines through this market, including an attorney in Arizona who works for a state insurance agency, a retired nurse in Illinois and a Type 1 diabetic in Louisiana, who said the medicine helped cut her insulin intake by more than half. For more than a year there has been demand for cheap Chinese-made powders, exacerbated by limited health insurance coverage in the US Buyers told Reuters the grey market received a boost from an FDA ruling last year that US compounding pharmacies – outsourcing facilities that create drugs in shortage – must stop selling obesity medicines more cheaply than the companies that developed them. Risky business Shipments of such active ingredients from Chinese entities not registered with the FDA jumped by 44 per cent in January from the previous month, according to research by the Partnership for Safe Medicines, a public health group focused on the safety of prescription drugs. It said its findings are likely an undercount, because unregistered vendors may not disclose that their parcels contain medicines. Packages valued at less than $800 that enter the US under the de minimis rule are not included in the data. Nearly three-quarters of US adults are overweight or obese, according to government estimates, but a survey by nonprofit health policy research organisation KFF found only about 8 per cent say they have taken medicine for weight loss. Most of the grey market buyers Reuters interviewed had told their medical providers they were taking GLP-1 medicines but not where or how they bought them. Insurance coverage for weight-loss drugs has recently increased, but typically only covers branded versions, according to consulting firm Mercer. Many Americans have paid out of pocket for cheaper compounded drugs. Interest in taking small doses of the drugs has also spurred the online marketplace, buyers said. Taking to platforms including Reddit and Telegram for guidance, buyers import small quantities, often described as research materials to sidestep regulatory scrutiny. They swap advice for navigating the market, exchanging information on vendors, shipping and dosage, and sometimes clubbing together to cover the cost of testing the powders. One forum is called StairwayToGray. It has more than 21,000 members on Telegram and recently was gaining nearly 1,000 members weekly. It did not respond to Reuters' inquiries, and blocked access to the forum after receiving them. It has a website where it says it does not facilitate group purchases. "This community is filling the gaps and being our own regulators, ensuring testing and access for everyone who needs it. Because you shouldn't have to choose between your health or your wallet," it says. Spencer stores her stocks in her fridge and makes them up in the kitchen – carefully measuring sterile water, rolling the vial between her fingers until the powder dissolves, and drawing the liquid into a syringe before injecting it into her thigh or belly. She has lost 24 pounds. "This is working so well for me. It's so easy. It's cheap," said Spencer, who assumes her health plan wouldn't cover the drugs. "I don't know what I would do without this medicine." 'Very dangerous' In February, 38 US state and territory attorney generals wrote the FDA seeking action against illegally sold weight-loss medicines, including "research purposes only" ingredients from China. "Much like with counterfeit versions, these active ingredients come from unregulated, undisclosed sources ... and pose risks of contamination and inclusion of foreign substances," they said. Shabbir Safdar, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, said unapproved drugs can have problems with sterility, purity and consistency. "It can be very dangerous. You're playing the role of your own doctor, pharmacist, and FDA inspector," he said. Of those interviewed, only Spencer reported any problems: She once got her math wrong and overdosed, resulting in several days of severe flu-like symptoms. Lilly said it had taken many steps to address patient safety risks posed by the proliferation of unsafe or untested tirzepatide. The company said it is filing lawsuits, educating consumers and working with social media companies to identify and remove posts that promote unsafe products, including those described as "research use only." "We will continue to take action to stop those who threaten patient safety and urgently call on regulators and law enforcement to do the same," a Lilly spokesperson told Reuters. Novo Nordisk also said it continues to take action against entities that violate laws and regulations and put patient safety at risk. America's Poison Control agency, which maintains the nation's poison data surveillance system and monitors GLP-1 exposures, said it could not reliably track cases involving unregulated "research chemical powders" because they are sold under various names and formulations. Reuters
