Overview

• The operation marked the first remote prostatectomy conducted under an FDA-approved transcontinental telesurgery trial.
• Dr. Vipul Patel controlled the surgical robot from Orlando, Florida, using fiber optic connections to remove cancerous tissue from 67-year-old Fernando da Silva.
• A local medical team in Angola was on standby to manage any technical disruptions and complete the surgery if needed.
• Patel will submit comprehensive procedural and outcome data to the FDA for review, aiming to expand telesurgical access.
• Technologists anticipate the approach could bring advanced surgical interventions to rural U.S. communities and emergency settings in remote locations.