On November 14, during the German Congress of Robotic Urology (DRUS 2025), Professor Lingwu Chen, Director of Urology at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), achieved a significant medical milestone. Operating from Hamburg, Germany, Professor Chen successfully performed a 5G-enabled remote radical prostatectomy on a patient located in Beijing, China.
This procedure marks the first time a remote robotic urological surgery has been conducted from Germany to China. The demonstration showcased the seamless integration of Chinese surgical expertise and domestic technological innovation to an audience of top European urologists.
A stable 5G remote-control system served as the technical backbone of the operation. Spanning a communication distance of approximately 12,000 km between the console in Hamburg and the patient at the Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing, the system maintained an average latency of just 125 milliseconds. This low latency allowed for precise, real-time manipulation throughout the 90-minute procedure.
During the operation, Professor Chen demonstrated advanced techniques, including the preservation of anterior urethral structures, bilateral endopelvic fascia, and maximal functional urethral length. This precision-focused approach ensured oncological efficacy while maximizing the preservation of the patient's postoperative urinary continence, highlighting the minimally invasive advantages of robotic surgery.
The German Congress of Robotic Urology (DRUS 2025)
The live demonstration was met with high praise from the European medical community. Congress President Professor Christian Wülfing commended the procedure, stating, "The surgery was stable, precise, and meticulous – perfectly done!"
This achievement symbolizes a shift for Chinese urology from following global trends to pioneering them. It presents a "Chinese solution" for the global implementation of remote robotic surgery, offering a blueprint for sharing high-quality medical resources across borders.
Professor Lingwu Chen (third from the left), poses with the surgical team after the 5G remote robotic surgery in Hamburg, Germany.
Prior to this international feat, Professor Chen had conducted multiple remote surgeries within China using domestic surgical robots, connecting Guangzhou to cities such as Qingyuan and Jiangmen. "The true value of remote surgery lies in bringing top-tier expertise to patients in remote or under-resourced areas," Chen noted.
The First Affiliated Hospital of SYSU has rapidly expanded its robotic surgery capabilities in recent years. The hospital currently operates six Da Vinci surgical systems and hosts several national training platforms, including the International Robotic Surgery Training Center.
The hospital’s expert team continues to lead innovation in "5G + Robotic Telesurgery," moving from technical exploration to established clinical models. Notable recent successes include Vice President Professor Ming Kuang performing a remote liver cancer resection for a patient in Fujian Province; Vice President Professor Xiaoyu Yin conducting a remote pancreaticoduodenectomy for a patient in Guangxi; and Professor Puyi Sheng, Director of Orthopedics and Microsurgery, performing a 5G-assisted total knee arthroplasty. These breakthroughs represent a significant step toward equitable access to high-quality medical care.
