The Intraoperative Role of Artificial Intelligence Within General Surgery: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The role of artificial intelligence has been explored in many industries across the world. The medical field is no exception with studies regarding its use for development of algorithms in cancer screening and its diagnostic utility in clinical radiology. This study aims to review current literature on intraoperative use of artificial intelligence within general surgery to identify the latest developments, the major challenges and the trajectory of this field. A literature search was done on PubMed on May 28, 2024, using the terms: ((artificial intelligence) AND (general surgery)). Only publications in English and studies involving human subjects were considered. Exclusion criteria included duplicate papers, irrelevant titles, abstracts, themes, and non-English papers. A literature search on PubMed yielded 13 relevant articles. Among these, five articles focused on intraoperative guidance, four addressed surgical education and training, and four were survey-based exploring perceptions regarding artificial intelligence. Key themes included the development of artificial intelligence-based autonomous actions during surgery and its role in enhancing surgical training. Limitations identified included restricted data availability, ethical concerns, and a lack of validation tools, which pose significant obstacles to progress in this area. Despite existing limitations, the potential for integrating artificial intelligence into general surgery is promising. Careful attention is needed to overcome challenges and maximize its benefits.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; deep learning; general surgery; intraoperative; medical education.

Figure 1. Flow chart of the study selection process according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement.