1st Dual-Console Long-Distance Robotic Telesurgery

GEM Hospital, India’s premier Gastroenterology and laparoscopic speciality hospital, has scripted a new chapter in medical history by successfully performing India’s first long-distance robotic telesurgery on a 23-year-old patient. Utilizing the Mizzo Endo 4000 - an advanced robotic platform developed by India’s Meril Life Sciences, the surgery was conducted by Dr.P.Senthilnathan from Vapi, Gujarat, approximately 1,500 kilometers away from the patient in Chennai. Unlike conventional telesurgeries where a single remote surgeon operates in isolation, this procedure utilized a dual-console system. This allowed a lead surgeon in Gujarat and a supporting surgeon at the patient’s bedside in Chennai to operate simultaneously. The two surgeons were able to interact, coordinate movements, and share control of the robotic arms in real-time. This collaborative "dual-operator" approach ensures an unprecedented level of safety and precision, marking the first time such a dual-console long-distance procedure has been performed in India. The patient, a 23-year-old suffering from severe, persistent vomiting and Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) unresponsive to medication, required a Robotic Fundoplication. In this procedure, the top part of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus to reinforce the valve and prevent acid reflux. The procedure was completed successfully by a team comprising the lead surgeon Dr.P.Senthilnathan, Dr. Magnus Jayaraj, Dr. Pinak Dasgupta, Dr. Sreeram Seshadhri, Dr. Cibhi.S.P, and Dr. Ashwini Krishnamurthy. The patient was discharged within a couple of days and is recovering well. Speaking about the new milestone, Dr. C. Palanivelu, Chairman of GEM Hospitals said,"This is not just a technological win, it is a democratisation of surgical expertise. GEM Hospital has always been at the forefront, becoming the first in India to deploy three different robotic platforms. By integrating the Mizzo Endo 4000, the first of its kind in South India, we are proving that the 'best hands' can now reach a patient anywhere, regardless of geography." Commenting on the dual-console advantage, Dr. P. Senthilnathan, Lead Surgeon & Director, GEM Hospital Chennai said, "While previous milestones in telesurgery were restricted by a single-operator model, this dual-console technology changes the game entirely. We were able to collaborate across 1,500 kilometers with such seamless, real-time coordination that it felt as if we were standing side-by-side at the same table. This ability for a remote expert and an on-site surgeon to operate simultaneously is a true 'boon' for the surgical community, particularly for mentoring and complex multi-disciplinary cases." Robotic surgery in India has seen steady growth. However, long-distance telesurgery, especially with dual console capability remains in its early stages. While a limited number of telesurgeries have been reported nationally, they have largely followed a single-surgeon remote operation model. GEM Hospital’s achievement is therefore among the first instances in India to demonstrate dual console collaborative telesurgery over such a long distance, and likely the first of its kind in South India using an indigenously developed robotic platform. This milestone highlights India’s increasing self-reliance in high-end surgical technology and its potential to lead in digitally enabled, networked surgical care. The use of an Indian-made platform (Meril Life Sciences) highlights the "Make in India" success in high-end medical robotics. “Telesurgery is evolving from a single-operator model to a collaborative surgical ecosystem. This dual console capability ensures that expertise is not limited by geography while retaining the advantage of on-ground surgical support. It has immense potential for training, skill transfer, and improving surgical outcomes across regions”, Dr. Senthilnathan further added. In addition, GEM doctors conducted a live demo-session to showcase the near-zero latency of the system. Experts noted that this technology will eventually allow specialized surgeons in metropolitan hubs to provide life-saving interventions to patients in rural or remote areas across India, fundamentally changing the landscape of healthcare accessibility.