Artificial Intelligence is not going to replace you! 6 ways AI will assist Anesthesiologists

In today's episode, we delve into the exciting realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in anesthesiology, uncovering its potential to revolutionize hospital systems and patient safety.

• We'll address common concerns about AI taking over jobs and emphasize why the human touch remains irreplaceable in healthcare.

Segment 1: The Human Connection

• AI's role in healthcare isn't about replacing physicians; it's about augmenting their abilities.
• Patients seek a unique connection with their physicians that AI can't replicate.
• AI can reduce administrative tasks and enhance our focus on patients, such as minimizing Electronic Health Record (EHR) documentation.

Segment 2: AI in Anesthesiology - A Scoping Review

• We draw insights from two key papers:
  1.  Daniel A. Hashimoto, Elan Witkowski, Lei Gao, Ozanan Meireles, Guy Rosman; Artificial Intelligence in Anesthesiology: Current Techniques, Clinical Applications, and Limitations. Anesthesiology 2020; 132:379–394 
  
  
• 2.  Bellini V, Valente M, Gaddi AV, Pelosi P, Bignami E. Artificial intelligence and telemedicine in anesthesia: potential and problems. Minerva Anestesiol. 2022 Sep;88(9):729-734. doi: 10.23736/S0375-9393.21.16241-8. Epub 2022 Feb 14. PMID: 35164492.

Segment 3: 6 Key Themes of AI in the Operating Room (OR)

Preoperatively

1. Event Prediction: AI can classify ASA status, predict difficult airways, and recommend optimal anesthesia methods, enhancing safety.

Intraop
2. Depth of Anesthesia Assessment: AI, alongside BIS (Bispectral Index Monitoring), assesses the depth of anesthesia.

• AI's accuracy surpasses BIS in assessing depth, reducing the risk of intraoperative awareness

3.  Control of Anesthesia Delivery: AI automates the delivery of paralytics and predicts drug pharmacokinetics for precise titration.

4.  Ultrasound Guidance: AI assists in identifying critical structures during ultrasound, such as arteries and ideal vertebral levels for epidural placement.

5.  Pain Management: AI analyzes whole-brain MRI to understand patients' responses to pain stimuli, improving our understanding of pain perception.

6.  OR Logistics: AI attempts to optimize OR scheduling, staffing, and team dynamics but faces challenges due to the complexity of the OR environment
                       Real-world data is essential for improving AI's accuracy in this domain.

Conclusion

• While AI holds immense promise in anesthesiology, we must ensure it is fed with diverse and representative data to avoid perpetuating healthcare disparities.
• Pain is a personal experience, and AI must complement, not replace, our understanding of patients' pain.
• AI is a tool that can enhance efficiency and patient safety, but it will always work alongside the human touch in healthcare.

Remember the words of Rodney Brooks, an Australian roboticist and entrepreneur: "Artificial intelligence is a tool, not a threat." AI's potential lies in its ability to support healthcare professionals and ultimately improve patient outcomes

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