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Urological Surgeries in China, Spain and Belgium Performed Live from Hamburg
For the first time in Europe, three tele-robotic surgeries were performed across national and continental borders – presented during the 15th Symposium of the German Society for Robot-Assisted Urology (DRUS 2025) at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. From Asklepios Clinic Altona (Hamburg), Chinese urologist Prof. Ling Wu Chen (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou) operated on a prostate cancer patient in Beijing via console and robotic system. His Belgian colleague, Dr. Geert De Naeyer (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Clinic, Aalst), performed a prostatectomy on his patient in Aalst (Belgium), while Spanish urologist Dr. Vital Hevia (Roc Clinic, Madrid) conducted a kidney surgery on a female patient in Madrid. All procedures took place simultaneously, connected through a high-stability 5G network. Around 400 participants from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, and China followed the premiere.
“This marks a European milestone in surgery,” said Prof. Dr. Christian Wülfing, Congress President of DRUS 2025 and Chief Physician of Urology at Asklepios Clinic Altona in Hamburg. “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.”
The technical foundation for tele-robotics lies in state-of-the-art fiber optic and mobile communication infrastructure. “5G networks are the backbone of this advancement,” explained Prof. Wülfing. “The signal from the console to the patient is transmitted virtually without latency. Only then can the surgeon respond precisely to the smallest movements – as if standing directly next to the operating table.
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The cross-border surgeries featured for the first time the use of Chinese robotic systems comparable to the well-established Da Vinci surgical robots by US manufacturer Intuitive, which have been on the market for 25 years. Among them were the Chinese EDGE system (KangDuo) and TOUMAI (MicroPort). The operations were conducted in close collaboration with partner clinics in Beijing, Madrid, and Aalst. “This technology could help make highly specialized procedures available in locations where medical experts are scarce,” Wülfing added. “It opens up new perspectives for international cooperation, the training of young surgeons, and improved access to advanced medical care – in Europe and worldwide.”
Another highlight of the DRUS 2025 conference was the live presentation of the new generation of Intuitive’s Da Vinci system, Da Vinci 5, in a broadcast from St. Antonius-Hospital Gronau (Germany). This model’s instruments provide tactile feedback, allowing surgeons to sense tissue resistance when cutting via joystick and console. Overall, the telerobotics sessions were the highlight of the two-day DRUS congress, which was held under the motto “Next Level – Robotic Urology and Beyond.”
In addition to the live surgeries, experts at DRUS 2025 also discussed the ethical and legal implications of international tele-robotic surgery, addressing issues such as data security, liability, and cross-border responsibility, as well as the opportunities that artificial intelligence and digital networking bring to modern urology.
Further information and the complete program can be found at: www.drus2025.dgru.de
Asklepios Clinic Altona is one of seven hospitals operated by Asklepios in Hamburg, four of which are tertiary care centers. Patients with urological diseases benefit from the interdisciplinary collaboration among Asklepios hospitals in Altona, Barmbek, Harburg, Rissen, and Wandsbek. For over 20 years, Asklepios has been a trusted partner in Hamburg’s healthcare system, treating roughly half of all inpatients in the city. The close cooperation of specialists across 28 medical disciplines ensures top-quality care through cross-site expert groups and interdisciplinary networks – providing state-of-the-art medicine for everyone.
Prof. LingWu Chen (Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou) operates on a patient with prostate cancer in ...
Copyright: Asklepios Kliniken
Prof. Dr. Christian Wülfing, Chief Physician of Urology at Asklepios Clinic Altona (Hamburg), with t ...
Copyright: Asklepios Kliniken
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