A revolution in surgery: da Vinci telesurgery connects Europe and the US
The medicine of the future has unfolded before our eyes. In July 2025, the da Vinci surgical robot enabled a transatlantic operation involving two specialists over 6,000 kilometers apart. Telesurgery, for years considered science fiction, has now become a reality – although the path to its widespread use remains challenging.
During the prestigious Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) conference in Strasbourg, France, Intuitive Surgical , a global leader in robotic surgery and manufacturer of the da Vinci system, organized an unprecedented demonstration of remote surgery.
At one time, from two continents:
Dr. Doug Stoddard operated from a hospital in Peachtree Corners, USA ,
Dr. Andrea Pakula co-led the procedure from France .
Using the da Vinci 5 dual console , both specialists performed a joint procedure on an advanced tissue model imitating the behavior of living tissue. Despite the distance separating them, the system enabled smooth, synchronized work thanks to remote instrument transfer and the Force Feedback function, which allowed patients to feel the resistance of the operated tissue.
Telesurgery in practice – a step into the future or still a dream?This isn't the first time medicine has connected continents – it's worth recalling the famous Operation Lindbergh in 2001 , also involving Strasbourg. However, progress has been slow over the past two decades. Why?
Because telesurgery isn't just about technology—it's about patient safety, connection stability, cybersecurity, and appropriate legal provisions . The lack of regulations in the European Union, insurance uncertainty, and the inability to immediately respond to complications are real barriers. Experts emphasize that a surgeon operating from another continent must be assured that support will be available locally in the event of a crisis.
“We don’t create technology for technology’s sake – our priority has always been patient safety and real clinical benefits,” says Dave Rosa, CEO of Intuitive.
In 2025 , Intuitive will celebrate its 30th anniversary . During this time:
over 17 million operations have already been performed using da Vinci systems,
almost 90,000 surgeons have been trained to work with these robots,
as many as 5 generations of surgical robots have been introduced.
The da Vinci system is not just a tool today – it is a platform for the surgery of the future , connecting surgeons from different countries , supporting telementoring (remote training), teleproctoring (remote supervision of the procedure) and multi-console surgery .
In Poland and neighboring countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Baltic states), da Vinci systems are available through the Synektik Group, Intuitive's exclusive distributor. More and more hospitals in the region are implementing robotic surgery – but this is only the beginning.
Experts have no illusions – before telesurgery becomes commonplace:
the network infrastructure must be ultra-stable and resistant to disruptions,
it is necessary to create clinical standards and legal regulations ,
it is necessary to face cyber threats and develop new security procedures.
"The challenges are enormous, but the progress is exciting. We have the opportunity to transform access to healthcare on a global scale," emphasizes Dr. Brian Miller of Intuitive, one of the founders of Operation Lindbergh.
Absolutely – yes . The Strasbourg show is not just a technological showcase, but a harbinger of a shift in thinking about medicine. We used to say: a doctor must be with the patient . Today we say: a doctor can be anywhere – as long as the system works flawlessly .
Will remote surgery be as obvious as videoconferencing in a few years? That depends on us—patients, doctors, and decision-makers. One thing is certain: surgery has just crossed the Atlantic.
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