Artificial intelligence is already being used in hospitals. Doctors say it could revolutionize diagnostics, treatment and research.
In Dr. Allan Conway’s operating room, the day begins with an old-fashioned scrub, a classic ritual before an operation that is anything but traditional.
Conway, a leading vascular surgeon at Marin Health Medical Center, is a pioneer in the use of artificial intelligence to treat aneurysms, also known as the silent killer.
“It’s exciting. It can analyze and help us identify exactly where the aneurysm is,” Conway said.
According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, about 200,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms, which occur when a portion of the body’s largest blood vessel becomes enlarged. If left untreated, it can lead to internal bleeding and death.
That morning, Conway was scheduled to operate on 81-year-old Gary Sweeden. He was rushed to the operating room after doctors discovered he had two aneurysms.
“It was very scary and I really wanted to get it fixed,” said Sweeden.
But unlike the countless surgeries he has performed in the past, Dr. Conway uses advanced AI technology called Cydar Maps, which creates a detailed 3D image of the patient’s anatomy.
“Before, we had to take a lot of X-rays and inject a lot of X-ray contrast to get this map. Now we know exactly where the aorta is, we know where the aneurysm is,” Conway said.
The AI images of the aneurysm are projected onto the operating room screens, giving doctors a clear picture of the problem in real time.
Healthcare is on the brink of a technological revolution, with AI set to radically change decision-making before, after and even during surgical procedures.
Dr. Curt Langlotz, director of the Center for AI in Medicine and Imaging at Stanford University, said this new technology holds promise as long as it is used responsibly.
“This latest wave of AI is so much more powerful and useful. We need to make sure we protect patient privacy and then we need to make sure we assess the accuracy and performance of each system,” he said.
As for Sweeden, his surgery was a success. So much so, that he is already making plans for after the surgery.
“The first thing I want to do is go fishing,” he said.
