Current applications of artificial intelligence in vascular surgery.

Journal: Seminars in vascular surgery
Published Date:

Abstract

Basic foundations of artificial intelligence (AI) include analyzing large amounts of data, recognizing patterns, and predicting outcomes. At the core of AI are well-defined areas, such as machine learning, natural language processing, artificial neural networks, and computer vision. Although research and development of AI in health care is being conducted in many medical subspecialties, only a few applications have been implemented in clinical practice. This is true in vascular surgery, where applications are mostly in the translational research stage. These AI applications are being evaluated in the realms of vascular diagnostics, perioperative medicine, risk stratification, and outcome prediction, among others. Apart from the technical challenges of AI and research outcomes on safe and beneficial use in patient care, ethical issues and policy surrounding AI will present future challenges for its successful implementation. This review will give a brief overview and a basic understanding of AI and summarize the currently available and used clinical AI applications in vascular surgery.

Authors

  • Uwe M Fischer
    Yale University School of Medicine, 330 Cedar Street, Boardman Building 204 PO Box 208062 New Haven, CT 06520. Electronic address: uwe.fischer@yale.edu.
  • Paula K Shireman
    University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX.
  • Judith C Lin
    Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI.