The application of telemedicine in surgery
image: This figure provides an overview of the content presented in this article. Telemedicine is integrated throughout the entire surgical workflow, with distinct applications across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. These applications are enabled by a suite of supporting technologies, while the associated implementation challenges are also considered.
Credit: Yufan Yang
Telemedicine, facilitated by modern information and communication technologies, has been extensively employed in surgical procedures, encompassing preoperative assessment, intraoperative guidance, and postoperative monitoring and rehabilitation. This approach is particularly beneficial in regions with an uneven distribution of medical resources, as it bridges geographical barriers by connecting patients with experienced surgical specialists and promoting advancements in surgical practices. Building upon recent developments, this review reconceptualizes surgical telemedicine through a health centered, workflow oriented paradigm that includes: proactive, data driven preoperative screening and risk stratification that transcends traditional reactive consultation models; intraoperative telepresence enhanced by robotics enabled collaboration with established technical thresholds; and differentiated postoperative pathways that clearly distinguish safety oriented surveillance from function-oriented remote rehabilitation. Despite its transformative potential, the widespread implementation of this technology faces multifaceted barriers, including technical constraints, economic considerations, and regulatory-ethical complexities. This review synthesizes current applications throughout the surgical trajectory, contextualizes historical evolution within contemporary practice, evaluates implementation frameworks, and critically examines enabling technologies. We further analyze the impact of telemedicine on surgical efficiency and resource allocation, addressing implementation challenges through evidence-based solutions. This synthesis offers actionable insights for policymakers, technology innovators, and healthcare systems, ultimately advancing the strategic integration of telemedicine to democratize access to high-quality surgical care.
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