Inside Surgery – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr Alice Tsai speaks with Dr Youness Ahallal, urologist and robotic surgeon, internationally recognised for pioneering telesurgery and advancing robotic surgery across Africa.

Dr Ahallal shares the story behind the world’s longest-distance robotic cancer surgery, performed between Shanghai and Morocco, and explains the four months of preparation required to make transcontinental telesurgery safe and feasible. The conversation explores signal latency, fibre-optic networks, AI-assisted motion stabilisation, and the teamwork required on both ends of a complex radical prostatectomy.

Beyond the technical achievement, Dr Ahallal reflects on his journey from Morocco to the United States and France, and his decision to return home to establish the first robotic surgery programme in North Africa. He discusses how telesurgery can shorten the learning curve for surgeons, support mentorship across distances, and improve equitable access to high-quality surgical care.

This episode highlights innovation in practice, the future of global surgical collaboration, and how technology can bridge geographic gaps in modern surgery.

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In this episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr. Draga Mandi speaks with Dr. Dragoș Eugen Georgescu, Romanian surgical oncologist, lecturer at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and EAES Fellowship awardee.

Dr. Georgescu reflects on his EAES Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Vilnius, sharing how immersive exposure to high-volume minimally invasive oncology reshaped his surgical practice. The conversation explores the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone, the role of mentorship and technical refinement, and how international fellowships foster long-term professional growth, collaboration, and adaptability in modern European surgery.

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Dr. Bright Huo hosts a discussion on new TaTME guidelines, with expert guests Prof. Michel Adamina, Prof. Patricia Sylla and Prof. Alberto Arezzo.

Experts highlighted its advantages for low rectal cancers, where it can ensure oncologic safety while preserving the sphincter, leading to better functional outcomes.

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This podcast is sponsored by Richard Wolf System Green, the real-time ICG/NIR solution for enhanced vision and saver decision in surgery.

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In this episode Dr Alice Tsai speaks with Prof. Milos Bjelovic, EAES 2025 Congress President, about the upcoming 33rd international EAES congress that will be held in Belgrade, Serbia from Tuesday 17 June through Friday 20 June in corporation with the Serbian Association for Endoscopic Surgery (UEHS). Prof. Bjelovic talks about the theme of the congress, what he's most looking forward to and where to visit while in Belgrade.

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In this episode, Professor Tan Arulampalam talks to Dr Chen Sagiv about how Artificial Intelligence can create super surgeons rather than lazy surgeons! They discuss current and potential applications of AI in surgery and their fears that AI might stop us thinking for ourselves.

Dr Sagiv is a mathematician and image processing researcher, as well as co-founder of DeePathology.

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In this episode, Professor Tan Arulampalam speaks with Dr. Ir.ing Tim Horeman about innovation in surgery and the relationship between surgery and engineering. Dr Horeman is Associate Professor of Sustainable Surgery & Translational Technology and Academic Portfolio Director of Medical Technology at Delft University of Technology, as well as being a member of the EAES Tech Committee. They discuss the relationship between engineers and surgeons and how it has changed over time, as well as considering the successes and challenges of innovating in surgery, and how to respond when it doesn't work first time.

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In this episode Professor Tan Arulampalam interviews a range of guests to spotlight the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in surgery. Professor Silvana Perretta discusses AI’s ability to enhance surgical precision, starting with procedures like cholecystectomy and laparoscopic hernia repair. Other experts, including Kiyokazu Nakajima and Rosa Jimenez-Rodriguez, explore AI’s potential as an intraoperative assistant while emphasising the need for careful implementation. Discussions cover AI-driven task automation, augmented reality, and competency assessment tools. The episode highlights AI’s role in surgical education, ethical considerations, and the future of automation, reinforcing that while AI will transform surgery, human expertise remains essential.

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In this episode, Professor Tan Arulampalam joins Professor Luigi Boni as he prepares for a real-life robotic-assisted low anterior resection on a 42-year-old patient with rectal cancer. He discusses the importance of patient selection, multidisciplinary planning, and precise surgical techniques. Professor Boni explains his hybrid approach—combining laparoscopy for the initial steps and robotics for pelvic dissection—to optimise outcomes. Key surgical insights include meticulous dissection, cross-stapling strategies, and the role of fluorescence-guided perfusion assessment to reduce anastomotic leaks. He emphasises the need for standardisation, patience, and attention to detail to achieve the best results in rectal cancer surgery.

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In this episode, hosted by Professor Tan Arulampalam, we welcome Professor Silvana Perretta from the University of Strasbourg, a renowned surgeon specialising in endoscopic and bariatric procedures. She introduces a groundbreaking flexible suturing system that reduces gastric volume and slows gastric emptying, offering a minimally invasive alternative to traditional bariatric surgery. Professor Perretta discusses the synergy between this procedure and weight-loss drugs, the training process for surgeons, and the low complication rates associated with the technique. She emphasises the importance of learning this method as part of a comprehensive obesity treatment strategy.

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In this episode hosts, Dr Alice Tsai and Dr Monica Ortenzi speak with three surgical specialists from The Hernia Institute Paris, which was the first French centre to specialise in laparoscopic abdominal wall and hernia surgery. The guests Dr Édouard Pélissier, Dr Philippe Ngo and Dr Jean-Pierre Cossa are all members of the French Academy of Surgery. Alice and Monica discuss with the guests their paper on 'Endoscopic-assisted repair of combined ventral hernias and diastasis recti: minimizing seroma incidence by quilting'.

Reference:
Cossa JP, Ngo P, Blum D, Pélissier E, Gillion JF. Endoscopic-assisted repair of combined ventral hernias and diastasis recti: minimizing seroma incidence by quilting. Surg Endosc. 2024 May;38(5):2826-2833. doi: 10.1007/s00464-024-10801-2. Epub 2024 Apr 10. PMID: 38600304.

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Would you like to become a part of the EAES family? Become a member via https://eaes.eu/become-a-member