June 17, SAHZU Neurosurgeon Prof. LIU Fengqiang remotely manipulates the stereotactic neurosurgery robot, Remebot, that is 200 kilometers away in Songyang Hospital of Li Shui City through a 5G network, and evacuates the intracerebral hematoma of a patient there. This remarkable achievement set a milestone of establishing China's first 5G-based digital neurosurgery operating theater.

During the surgery, the scene of the operational site in Songyang as well as the Remebot's platform are transmitted back in real time to the 5G Remote Command Center at SAHZU. Owing to the large bandwidth and extreme low latency of the 5G network, the neurosurgeons in both locations can interact and communicate in almost the same surgical environment. The surgery turns out to be smooth and safe with no observable bleeding or other complications.

The project leader and Vice Chair of SAHZU Neurosurgery Prof. CHEN Gao summarized that the operation highlights two advanced technologies. One is the navigation system of the stereotactic neurosurgery robot that can assist doctors to achieve the best surgery outcome with the minimal wound by finding the most appropriate surgery approach after considerate surgical simulation and planning. The other is the 5G network technology that enables Hangzhou and Songyang to communicate in high efficiency, to share surgical images in real time, to operate the robot and tele-mentor the surgery with the easiest efforts.

Watching the hematoma successfully evacuated by SAHZU doctors remotely, SAHZU Director Prof. WANG Jian’an proudly said that "SAHZU is the first hospital in China that uses the 5G remote ultrasound technology, owns the 5G ambulance, and operates the drone-delivery-flight of blood. Now, another 'first' record of 5G based digital neurosurgery operating theater is being established by SAHZU. We are working hard to apply the most advanced digital technology to the healthcare services to help more lives, and will keep on pioneering 'Internet plus healthcare' programs and benefiting wider patient populations."