Current Feasibility of Urologic Telesurgery in Low/Middle Income Countries
It is estimated that nearly five billion people do not have access to surgical care. Approximately 94% of individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lack access to surgery in comparison to 14.9% in high-income countries (HICs). There are several urologic conditions requiring surgical in...
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The Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU)
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Société Internationale d’Urologie Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2563-6499/5/6/68 |
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| author | Alex S. Bart Jack F. Albala David M. Albala |
| author_facet | Alex S. Bart Jack F. Albala David M. Albala |
| author_sort | Alex S. Bart |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is estimated that nearly five billion people do not have access to surgical care. Approximately 94% of individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lack access to surgery in comparison to 14.9% in high-income countries (HICs). There are several urologic conditions requiring surgical intervention that are not treated because of the limited number of expert urologists in LMICs. Telesurgery is a concept that connects patients and surgeons in different locations through the use of a robotic surgery system. In this review, we explain the origins of telesurgery as well as the benefits and obstacles to its global implementation. Telesurgery can reduce travel times and the dangers associated with traveling for surgical care in LMICs. Additionally, telesurgery allows patients in LMICs to gain access to expert urologists while also providing effective training to upcoming surgeons. However, LMICs require substantial investment to improve digital infrastructure that will support urologic telesurgery. There will also be ethical, legal, and policy considerations that will need to be resolved for safe and equitable urologic telesurgery to occur. There have been multiple successful applications of urologic telesurgery, suggesting that the technology for this to become routine is already available. The time for international collaboration must begin now to reduce global disparities in access to urologic surgery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f0a9fc69bc74381a8ae5d8a3fde34c6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2563-6499 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | The Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Société Internationale d’Urologie Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f0a9fc69bc74381a8ae5d8a3fde34c62024-12-27T14:53:42ZengThe Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU)Société Internationale d’Urologie Journal2563-64992024-12-015686987510.3390/siuj5060068Current Feasibility of Urologic Telesurgery in Low/Middle Income CountriesAlex S. Bart0Jack F. Albala1David M. Albala2Associated Medical Professionals of NY, 1226 East Water Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, USAAssociated Medical Professionals of NY, 1226 East Water Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, USAAssociated Medical Professionals of NY, 1226 East Water Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, USAIt is estimated that nearly five billion people do not have access to surgical care. Approximately 94% of individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lack access to surgery in comparison to 14.9% in high-income countries (HICs). There are several urologic conditions requiring surgical intervention that are not treated because of the limited number of expert urologists in LMICs. Telesurgery is a concept that connects patients and surgeons in different locations through the use of a robotic surgery system. In this review, we explain the origins of telesurgery as well as the benefits and obstacles to its global implementation. Telesurgery can reduce travel times and the dangers associated with traveling for surgical care in LMICs. Additionally, telesurgery allows patients in LMICs to gain access to expert urologists while also providing effective training to upcoming surgeons. However, LMICs require substantial investment to improve digital infrastructure that will support urologic telesurgery. There will also be ethical, legal, and policy considerations that will need to be resolved for safe and equitable urologic telesurgery to occur. There have been multiple successful applications of urologic telesurgery, suggesting that the technology for this to become routine is already available. The time for international collaboration must begin now to reduce global disparities in access to urologic surgery.https://www.mdpi.com/2563-6499/5/6/68urologic telesurgerysurgery in LMICstelementoringlatencytelesurgery infrastructure |
| spellingShingle | Alex S. Bart Jack F. Albala David M. Albala Current Feasibility of Urologic Telesurgery in Low/Middle Income Countries Société Internationale d’Urologie Journal urologic telesurgery surgery in LMICs telementoring latency telesurgery infrastructure |
| title | Current Feasibility of Urologic Telesurgery in Low/Middle Income Countries |
| title_full | Current Feasibility of Urologic Telesurgery in Low/Middle Income Countries |
| title_fullStr | Current Feasibility of Urologic Telesurgery in Low/Middle Income Countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Current Feasibility of Urologic Telesurgery in Low/Middle Income Countries |
| title_short | Current Feasibility of Urologic Telesurgery in Low/Middle Income Countries |
| title_sort | current feasibility of urologic telesurgery in low middle income countries |
| topic | urologic telesurgery surgery in LMICs telementoring latency telesurgery infrastructure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2563-6499/5/6/68 |
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