Remote surgery, or telesurgery, represents a paradigm shift in the delivery of surgical care, enabling procedures to be performed across geographic distances through the integration of robotic systems and advanced telecommunications. Early conceptual groundwork for telesurgery began in the late 20th century, with experimental demonstrations of surgical teleoperation intended to overcome spatial barriers, including early satellite-linked robotic biopsies in 1993 that presaged later clinical efforts (Xie 2025; Picozzi 2023). The landmark clinical milestone in remote surgery was the Lindbergh Operation on 7 September 2001, when Professor Jacques Marescaux and colleagues performed a transatlantic robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy from New York on a patient in Strasbourg, France using the ZEUS robotic system, demonstrating the feasibility of long-distance telesurgery with controlled latency and high-speed telecommunications (Marescaux et al. 2001; Anvari 2005). Subsequent efforts expanded clinical use: in 2003, a stable remote surgical service was established between Hamilton and North Bay, Ontario, enabling multiple robotic laparoscopic procedures over a regional network (Anvari 2005). Technological milestones have included the evolution from early master–slave robotic platforms to modern systems incorporating enhanced haptic feedback, reduced latency, and integration with high-speed networks such as 5G, facilitating more precise and diverse remote interventions (Picozzi 2023; Huang et al. 2025). Contemporary research explores telesurgery’s role in expanding access to specialised care, surgical training, and global healthcare equity, while addressing persistent challenges including latency, legal frameworks, cost, and infrastructure requirements (MDPI 2024; Picozzi 2023). The 25th anniversary of the Lindbergh Operation underscores both the historical significance and ongoing evolution of remote surgical practice, marking its transition from experimental demonstration to a potentially transformative component of future surgical and telehealth systems.