Clinical application research of 5G-based robot-assisted remote urological surgery
10.3760/cma.j.cn112330-20240721-00331
- VernacularTitle:基于5G通信技术的机器人辅助远程泌尿外科手术的临床应用研究
- Author:
Yunhan HUANG
1
;
Haidi LYU
1
;
Fenghai ZHOU
1
;
Bin FENG
1
;
Xiaofeng ZHANG
1
;
Baihong GUO
1
Author Information
1. 甘肃省人民医院泌尿外科，兰州 730000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Urology;
Robot-assisted surgery;
5G Communication technology;
Remote surgery
- From:
Chinese Journal of Urology
2025;46(1):49-54
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of performing multi-procedure remote urological surgeries by integrating 5G communication technology with domestically manufactured robotic surgical systems.Methods:Patients requiring urological laparoscopic surgery for benign lesions or tumors were prospectively enrolled at Gansu Provincial Hospital from May 2023 to June 2024. Inclusion criteria included age ≥18 years, body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 30 kg/m 2, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification Ⅰ-Ⅲ. Tumor-related surgical indicators were as follows: renal tumors staged ≤T 2, solitary tumors, or maximum diameter ≤10 cm; intermediate- to low-risk prostate cancer (clinical stage ≤T 2b), with preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤20 ng/ml or Gleason score ≤7; adrenal tumors with a diameter ≤7 cm or ≥3 cm for non-functional adenomas; and bladder tumors staged ≤T 2. Exclusion criteria included participation in other investigational drug or device clinical trials within the past 1 month, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and patients requiring emergency surgery. Patients with severe cardiovascular or circulatory diseases contraindicating surgery, and individuals with epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, or cognitive impairments were also excluded. Additionally, patients with active bleeding, coagulation disorders, or platelet counts <80×10 9/L were excluded. A 5G communication link was established between the main campus and the new branch of Gansu Provincial Hospital, approximately 70 km apart. Remote surgeries were performed using the domestically manufactured robotic surgical system (Toumai MT-1000). Perioperative key indicators, intraoperative network conditions, and robotic system performance were systematically recorded. Results:This study involved 14 patients, comprising 3 cases of renal cysts, 3 cases of renal tumors, 3 cases of nonfunctional kidneys, 2 cases of adrenal tumors, 1 case of bladder tumor, 1 case of prostate cancer, and 1 case of ureteral-bladder wall thickening with pelvic ureteral stones. The cohort included 7 male and 7 female patients, with an average age of (57.4±12.3) years, a BMI of (24.6±3.0) kg/m 2, and ASA classifications of grade Ⅱ in 9 cases and grade Ⅲ in 5 cases. All remote surgeries were successfully completed without the need for conversion to alternative surgical methods. Three renal cyst unroofing decompression procedures were performed, with an average console operation time of (32.0±6.6) minutes and intraoperative blood loss of (13.3±2.9) ml. Two partial nephrectomies were conducted, with console operation times of 140 and 160 minutes, intraoperative blood loss of 20 ml each, and warm ischemia times of 19 and 25 minutes, respectively. The preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) for these cases were 115.2 and 107.3 ml/(min·1.73m 2), and postoperative eGFR were 102.0 and 95.5 ml/(min·1.73m 2), respectively. Four radical nephrectomies were completed, with an average console operation time of (50.2±13.7) minutes and intraoperative blood loss of (20.5±13.2) ml. Two adrenal tumor resections were performed, each with console operation times of 45 and 50 minutes and intraoperative blood loss of 10 ml. Additionally, one partial bladder resection was conducted, requiring a console operation time of 60 minutes and resulting in intraoperative blood loss of 10 ml. A single radical prostatectomy was carried out, with a console operation time of 180 minutes, intraoperative blood loss of 120 ml, and pre- and postoperative PSA levels of 11.7 ng/ml and 0.06 ng/ml, respectively. One ureteral-bladder reimplantation was also performed, with a console operation time of 240 minutes and intraoperative blood loss of 10 ml. The average total delay for the 14 remote surgeries ranged from 194 to 250 ms, while the average network transmission delay ranged from 13 to 55 ms. During the procedures, six instances of sudden large fluctuations in network transmission delay were observed, ranging from 333 to 654 ms. These fluctuations resolved automatically within approximately 10 seconds but resulted in temporary disruptions: 2 cases of master-slave console lock (reset process lasted around 5 seconds) and 1 case of switching to the local console for emergency hemostasis (lasting approximately 7 minutes). These interruptions did not significantly affect the surgical process. Postoperative complications in all patients were classified as Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ and were unrelated to the surgical procedures or equipment. No cancer was detected in the resection margins of malignant tumors. Follow-up evaluations at three months, including blood tests, liver and kidney function tests, and CT scans of the surgical sites, revealed no significant abnormalities or adverse events. Conclusions:5G communication technology, with an average total latency of less than 250 ms, enables domestic surgical robots to perform multi-procedural remote urological surgeries effectively. However, during procedures requiring extensive suturing for urological reconstruction or managing unplanned intraoperative bleeding, network latency fluctuations exceeding 333 ms can extend the operation time and may necessitate switching to local control for emergency hemostasis.
