The Future of AI in Surgery

With increasing data, computing power, improved algorithms, and funding, AI in surgery is poised for a significant revolution.

The revolution will progress incrementally, with decision-support systems becoming more pervasive in patient care.

Machine learning will be integrated throughout a patient's journey to provide personalized treatment plans and comprehensive risk assessments.

Intraoperative decision support will slowly enter operating rooms, providing guidance to surgeons, and evolving into an intraoperative “GPS”.

Postoperative decision support systems will flag potential complications and may even predict specific complications.

Automation powered by AI will gradually be incorporated into surgical procedures, starting with automating small tasks such as laparoscopic port placement and fascia closure.

In the future, surgeons may perform the majority of the procedure, leaving autonomous systems to execute specific tasks, potentially leading to fully autonomous surgery eventually.