Jordan harnesses the power of Proximie to deliver its first-ever robotics procedure

The first ever robotics surgery has taken place at the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), in Amman, Jordan. Proximie’s state-of-the-art technology platform was used to enable a specialist robotics surgeon, based in the UK, to virtually scrub-in to the live procedure taking place almost 3,500 miles away in Jordan.

Proximie was rapidly deployed to enable a surgeon based in the UK to remotely proctor Jordan’s first-ever robotic surgery.

The landmark case involving surgical teams on two separate continents took place on 23rd January 2022, at the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), in Amman, Jordan.

The successful radical left nephrectomy, which involves the entire kidney being removed, was completed in three hours by Dr. Mohammed Shahait, using CMR Surgical’s next-generation Versius Surgical Robotic System, while the remote surgeon in the UK was Dr. Nikhil Vasdev.

Dr. Vasdev, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon, and Associate Medical Director at the Cancer Services Department of Urology, Lister Hospital (ENHT NHS Trust), had originally planned to proctor the procedure in person, however, due to travel restrictions he was unable to do so. Rather than cancel the critical cancer operation, CMR Surgical contacted Proximie via Jordan Robotics Surgical to see whether Proximie’s software could be installed to enable the operating surgeon to collaborate remotely.

Within 24 hours, Proximie had deployed an integration team to the King Hussein Cancer Center to rapidly deploy its software on site. The swift integration ensured an important cancer procedure that the patient desperately needed could go ahead as planned.

Using Proximie’s mixed technologies, including artificial intelligence and augmented reality, Dr. Vasdev was able to have a first-person view of CMR Surgical’s Versius Surgical Robotic System from start to finish, providing Dr. Shahait with live advice in a visually intuitive way. An internet-connected device was all that was needed to provide Dr. Vasdev with a live camera feed of the robotic operation that was taking place some 3,500 miles away. Proximie gave the proctoring surgeon the ability to provide verbal instructions in real-time, draw or overlay important patient scans, and virtually reach into the clinical field to provide precise guidance as and when it was needed.

Dr. Vasdev explains: “Using the Proximie platform I was able to proctor Dr. Shahait and his team, to perform Jordan’s first robotic case. The robotic operation was performed very safely and the patient has now been discharged, two days after the Robotic surgery.

“Proximie will continue to aid surgeons and teams to train around the world, despite the pressures and travel restrictions of the ongoing pandemic. Most importantly, patients will now see the benefit of this technology. I am honoured to have been able to proctor the team at KHCC, Jordan to perform the country’s first case.”

Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram BEM — Proximie’s CEO and Founder, and an NHS frontline surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London — says: “I’m incredibly proud Proximie could play a part in Jordan’s first-ever robotics procedure.”

“This landmark case is a fantastic example of what can happen when brilliant physicians collaborate and share their skills, and all to ultimately benefit the patient.”

“It was always my ambition to create a platform that could be scaled swiftly and efficiently and this use case is very much a testament to that. Our team had travelled to King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Amman, Jordan and installed our software within 24 hours, ensuring the patient could receive the best care possible, despite the obvious challenges posed by COVID-19.”

Her Royal Highness Princess Ghida Talal, Chairperson of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) and Center (KHCC), added: “We are proud that Jordan has acquired the very latest surgical technology, as this will have a significant impact on the quality of medical treatment we provide to our patients. Keeping pace with the latest treatment developments is a vital part of KHCF and KHCC’s mission to provide comprehensive cancer care to our patients, in line with international standards.”

The innovative use of the software is another example of how technologies like Proximie can be used to ensure that important non-COVID-19-related cases can continue. In doing so, this case highlights how technology can be harnessed to help address the global surgical backlog.