In a milestone moment for global medical science, surgeons in Strasbourg, France, remotely performed a successful bariatric surgery on a patient in Indore, India, spanning over 8,500 kilometres with zero technical lag.
The operation took place during the Society of Robotic Surgery’s Annual Meeting and was led by bariatric surgeon Dr. Mohit Bhandari. Using the indigenously developed SSI Mantra 3 robotic system, Dr. Bhandari completed a gastric bypass procedure on a morbidly obese, diabetic patient at Mohak Bariatric and Robotic Surgery Centre in just 48 minutes. The patient, who had a BMI of 50 and suffered from coronary artery disease and sleep apnoea, was able to stand and walk within hours post-operation.
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This real-time robotic telesurgery was made possible through ultra-low latency communication infrastructure, allowing for seamless surgical control from France. Dr. Bhandari operated the robotic console from IRCAD (Institute for Research into Cancers of the Digestive System) in Strasbourg, while Dr. Mahak Bhandari assisted on-site in Indore. The initiative was envisioned by Dr. Vinod Bhandari, with technological support from SS Innovations.
Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, founder of SS Innovations, simultaneously performed a second robotic surgery, a cardiac atrial septal defect (ASD) closure, using the same platform. He conducted the cardiac procedure remotely from France on another patient in Indore.
Both surgeries were performed using the made-in-India SSI Mantra system, which has already been deployed in over 5,000 procedures across multiple specialities, including 35 telesurgeries and 250 cardiac operations. The system, approved by India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), enables safe and precise remote surgeries and training.
While robotic-assisted surgeries have been around for over two decades, the scale and intercontinental nature of these procedures mark a significant leap forward. Experts say this could revolutionise access to speciality surgeries, particularly in underserved regions.
“This isn’t just about advanced technology; it’s about reshaping healthcare access. With the success of the SSI Mantra, India has demonstrated that the future of global surgery can be led from home soil,” said Dr. Mohit Bhandari.
