Dr Divya Singh, Senior Surgeon, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Director, Maaiya Social Change Front Foundation highlights that the role of Artificial Intelligence in surgery represents a paradigm shift in healthcare. By harnessing the power of AI, we have the potential to enhance surgical precision, improve patient outcomes, and transform the delivery of healthcare services
In a groundbreaking era of medical innovation, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into surgical practices is revolutionising the field of healthcare. AI technologies are poised to reshape surgical procedures, improving outcomes, efficiency, and patient safety. As the world progresses towards an era of precision medicine, the role of AI in surgery is gaining prominence as a transformative force in healthcare.
AI technologies have the potential to assist surgeons in various ways, from preoperative planning to intra-operative decision-making and postoperative care. With its ability to analyse vast amounts of medical data and perform complex algorithms, AI empowers surgeons with valuable insights and assists in making more informed decisions.
One of the key areas where AI is making a significant impact is in image-guided surgeries. Advanced imaging techniques, combined with AI algorithms, enable surgeons to visualise and navigate complex anatomical structures with greater precision. This enhances the accuracy of surgical procedures, minimises risks, and facilitates faster patient recovery.
For instance, real-time analysis of laparoscopic video has achieved an impressive 92.8 per cent accuracy in automatically identifying the steps involved in a sleeve gastrectomy procedure, even detecting any missing or unexpected steps. A single minute of high-definition surgical video can contain 25 times more data than a high-resolution computed tomography image, suggesting that videos hold a wealth of valuable information.
AI-powered robotic surgical systems are also revolutionising the medical field. These systems offer enhanced dexterity, precision, and control, enabling surgeons to perform intricate procedures with greater ease. AI algorithms and machine learning enable these robotic systems to adapt and learn from previous surgeries, continuously improving their performance over time.
By analysing diagnostic and treatment data patterns from the SEER cancer registry and comparing them to Medicare claims, machine learning techniques such as random forests, neural networks, and lasso regression were able to predict lung cancer staging using only ICD-9 claims data. This approach achieved impressive results with 93 per cent sensitivity, 92 per cent specificity, and 93 per cent accuracy.
Furthermore, AI-driven predictive analytics play a crucial role in preoperative planning. By analysing patient data, including medical history, imaging results, and genetic information, AI algorithms can help identify potential risks and develop personalised treatment plans. For example, Pathologists have utilised AI to decrease their error rate in recognising cancer-positive lymph nodes from 3.4 per cent to 0.5 per cent. Further, by enhancing improved identification of high-risk patients, AI can assist surgeons and radiologists in reducing the rate of lumpectomy by 30 per cent in patients whose breast needle biopsies are considered high-risk lesions but ultimately found to be benign after surgical excision. This assists surgeons in tailoring surgeries to the unique needs of each patient, optimising outcomes and reducing complications. However, it is important to note that AI is not meant to replace human surgeons but augment their capabilities. The collaboration between human expertise and AI technologies creates a powerful synergy that holds great promise for the future of surgical interventions.
Technology-based dissemination of surgical practice can empower every surgeon with the ability to improve the quality of global surgical care. AI could help pool surgical experience – similar to efforts in genomics and biobanks – to bring the decision-making capabilities and techniques of the global surgical community into every operation. Big data could be leveraged to create a “collective surgical consciousness” that carries the entire volume of the field’s knowledge, leading to technology-augmented real-time clinical decision support, such as intraoperative, GPS-like guidance. Surgeons can utilise this pooled patient and population-based data to further segment surgical care.
As the healthcare industry embraces AI, it is essential to prioritise ethical considerations, data privacy, and regulatory standards. Responsible and transparent integration of AI in surgical practices ensures patient safety, maintains trust, and fosters the continued advancement of this transformative technology.
To conclude
The healthcare industry is at the forefront of this transformative journey, actively collaborating with leading institutions and researchers to further advance the role of AI in surgery. Through ongoing research, development, and educational initiatives, the industry aims to harness the full potential of AI to revolutionize surgical practices and improve the lives of patients worldwide. As we continue to explore the possibilities of AI, it is imperative that we remain committed to ensuring patient safety, ethics, and the highest standards of care.