Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) and Chunghwa Telecom have successfully performed Taiwan’s first cross-sea AR-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, connecting doctors in Taipei and Penghu using a 5G private network. Last year, the two organizations collaborated on a remote 3D AR surgical teaching session using the Da Vinci surgical system. This year, they took it a step further by conducting remote guidance for a thoracoscopic surgery across the sea, where doctors at TSGH’s main hospital in Taipei could view the surgery from the perspective of their colleagues in Penghu and provide real-time guidance during a cancer lymph node biopsy. TSGH emphasized that this technology could be applied to any surgical procedure in the future, especially in emergencies on outlying islands where severe weather might prevent patient transfers, helping to save lives.
In this remote 3D AR surgery, the thoracic surgeons and surgical assistants at TSGH’s Penghu branch were performing a mediastinal lymph node biopsy through thoracoscopy. Their first-person surgical view was transmitted via a 5G private network to TSGH’s Neihu hospital in Taipei. This breakthrough eliminated the barrier of distance, allowing experienced thoracic surgeons in Taipei to instantly see what the Penghu doctors were seeing and provide real-time surgical guidance.
Thoracoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, offers several advantages, including smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recovery times. Most patients can be discharged shortly after the procedure. However, TSGH noted that this type of surgery relies heavily on the surgeon's experience and skill. With the guidance of senior surgeons, less experienced doctors can perform the surgery with greater confidence.
Chunghwa Telecom built the 5G private network at TSGH’s Neihu branch and installed a 5G base station outside the operating room at the Penghu branch. They also provided AR glasses to the surgeons and assistants. Through Chunghwa Telecom’s "AR Video Collaboration Platform," the first-person surgical view was streamed in real-time to Taipei.
The senior surgeons at TSGH’s Neihu branch were able to remotely guide the Penghu surgical team, offering critical advice during key moments of the procedure. Using a collaboration mode, they could freeze the screen, mark surgical targets, and discuss next steps with the team before proceeding. They also monitored for signs of heavy bleeding and recommended hemostatic measures as needed. The entire surgery lasted about an hour.
TSGH stated that this successful collaboration not only demonstrates the potential for remote medical teaching and surgical guidance but also overcomes geographical limitations. This innovative application of smart medical technology enhances remote collaboration among physicians and brings higher-quality medical resources to rural and outlying island regions.
Resource (mandarin): 5G大連線 三總完成台灣、澎湖首例跨海「AR手術」
