20/11/2025

Surgeons in Hamburg remotely performed complex urological procedures on patients in Beijing, Madrid, and Aalst using advanced robotic systems and high-stability 5G networks. The live demonstrations showed how cross-border surgery can function in real time without noticeable delay and highlighted new possibilities for international medical cooperation.

A surgeon in surgical scrubs smiles at the camera while standing beside a robotic surgery system; Copyright: Asklepios Kliniken

A surgeon demonstrates the capabilities of a modern robotic surgery system used for precise, minimally invasive procedures.

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For the first time in Europe, three tele-robotic surgeries were carried out simultaneously across national and continental borders.
From Asklepios Clinic Altona, Chinese urologist Prof. Ling Wu Chen remotely operated on a prostate cancer patient in Beijing. Dr. Geert De Naeyer in Belgium performed a prostatectomy on his patient in Aalst, while Spanish urologist Dr. Vital Hevia conducted kidney surgery on a woman in Madrid. All procedures were transmitted via a high-stability 5G network to around 400 participants.

A milestone for robotic medicine

Prof. Christian Wülfing, Chief Physician of Urology at Asklepios Clinic Altona, emphasized the significance:
“This marks a European milestone in surgery. Today we demonstrated that complex procedures can be safely performed over thousands of kilometers – in real time and without noticeable delay. This marks a new chapter in robotic medicine.”

He added that the precision is possible only through cutting-edge connectivity:
“5G networks are the backbone of this advancement. The signal from the console to the patient is transmitted virtually without latency.”

Use of international robotic platforms

For the first time in Europe, Chinese robotic platforms such as EDGE (KangDuo) and TOUMAI (MicroPort) were used in cross-border surgeries, comparable to the long-established Da Vinci systems from Intuitive. The collaborations with partner clinics in Beijing, Madrid, and Aalst highlighted the potential to expand access to highly specialized procedures.

Prof. Wülfing explained:
“This technology could help make highly specialized procedures available in locations where medical experts are scarce.”
He pointed to opportunities for international training, clinical cooperation, and improved access to advanced surgical care.

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Asklepios

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