5G mobile remote robotic surgery: A case report and literature review

Background　5G-enabled remote surgery provides a novel direction for the forward deployment of surgical resources. However, current technologies remain constrained to fixed scenarios, and mobile remote surgical models have yet to be implemented, with their potential awaiting exploration.Objective　To investigate the safety and feasibility of mobile remote robotic abdominal surgery utilizing 5G communication technology integrated with a vehicle-mounted mobile robotic surgical system. Methods　A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data about a patient undergoing abdominal exploration and appendectomy by the General Surgery Department team of the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital. The procedure, accomplished on September 27, 2024, utilized a 5G wireless network-enabled vehicle-mounted mobile remote robotic surgical system to overcome a 100-kilometer distance barrier (surgeon located in Baoding, patient in a fixed operating room in Beijing).Results　A 40-year-old female patient presented with "recurrent abdominal pain for 9 months, aggravated for 1 day" and was diagnosed with acute peritonitis and acute exacerbation of chronic appendicitis. The surgery was completed smoothly in 20 minutes without significant latency or interruptions. Intraoperative blood loss was approximately 5 mL, with a bidirectional network latency averaging 75 ms. No adverse events, including network disconnections, frame loss, or cyberattacks, occurred. The patient recovered uneventfully, experiencing no postoperative complications such as hemorrhage or abdominal pain. Bowel function resumed on postoperative day 1, and the patient was discharged on day 2.Conclusion　Preliminary findings indicate that mobile remote robotic surgery supported by 5G wireless networks is safe and feasible. This system provides a novel platform and approach for promoting the allocation of high-quality medical resources to the grassroots level, particularly for enhancing the medical support capabilities of military medicine.