Pioneering case: Robot-assisted remote radical distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer based on 5G communication technology

Background: The aim of this study is to describe technical considerations and short-term outcomes of the first officially published robot-assisted remote radical distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer with 5G technology. Methods: A 51-year-old gastric cancer patient with clinical stage T2N0M0 underwent 5G-enabled robot-assisted remote radical distal gastrectomy on September 11, 2023 ​at the Third Department of Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Results: The surgery procedure was successfully performed with an average total intraoperative delay of 225 ​ms, average round-trip delay of 30 ​ms and no packet loss rate. The operative time was 140 ​min and intraoperative blood loss was 20 ​ml. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 6 without any postoperative complications. Conclusion: This case has preliminarily verified the feasibility and safety of 5G-enabled robot-assisted remote radical distal gastrectomy for patients with gastric cancer. The initial study fills in the gaps in related fields and lays a solid foundation for subsequent research. To verify its superior operative outcomes, further clinical trials are needed.