Surgeon in Strasbourg removes liver tumour from a patient in Hangzhou remotely
The 80-year-old patient remained at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital while teams in France and China coordinated a robotic liver operation.
Published by CareAtlas · Editorial policy
An 80-year-old man underwent robotic liver tumour removal at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, while his surgeon controlled the system from Strasbourg, France. The operation took place on July 19, 2025, Central European Time; Zhejiang University published its account on August 11.
A complex clinical history
The patient, identified by the pseudonym Mr Wu, had chronic hepatitis B for twenty years. He had undergone open surgery fourteen years earlier and had recently received radiation therapy. His liver tumour measured 3.5 centimetres.
Abdominal adhesions and the liver’s complex blood vessels added difficulty. The hospital described an urgent clinical need arising while his primary surgeon, Professor Liang Xiao, was attending an overseas meeting. The patient and team chose the remote robotic approach for that treatment window.
Assessment, planning and consent
Preparations included a comprehensive liver assessment, mapping the planned resection and obtaining consent for remote surgery. Teams in Hangzhou and Strasbourg coordinated across a distance of approximately 10,000 kilometres.
Liang used the surgeon’s console in France. Four robotic arms operated at the patient’s side in Hangzhou, while high-definition images showed the tumour and surrounding structures. Audio communication allowed the two teams to exchange instructions during the procedure.
Tumour removal and early recovery
The operation included separating abdominal adhesions, removing the tumour, controlling bleeding and placing a drainage tube. The university reported that the tumour was completely removed in approximately fifty minutes.
It described stable operation of the robotic system, clear imaging and uninterrupted communication. Mr Wu recovered and left hospital within days.
The patient remained in China
This was a completed operation involving a patient in Hangzhou and a surgeon temporarily in France. The hospital’s earlier experience included a 2023 remote gallbladder operation between Hangzhou and its Alaer campus in Xinjiang, followed by remote liver and pancreatic procedures. Its team also issued a 2025 expert consensus on 5G remote robotic hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.