JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Techniques utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly growing in medical research and development, especially in the operation room. However, the application of AI in the operation room has been only limited to small tasks or software such as a clinical decision system and still largely depends on human resources and surgeons’ hand technology. Therefore, we conceptualized an AI-based solo surgery (AISS) defined as laparoscopic surgery conducted by only one surgeon supported by an AI-based surgical assistant system and performed a web-based survey on the clinical desire for it.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the experiences of surgeons who have performed laparoscopic surgery, limitations on conventional laparoscopic surgical systems, and desire for newly developing AI-based surgical assistant systems for AISS.

Methods:

We performed an online survey for gynecologists, urologists, and general surgeons from June to August 2017. The questionnaire consists of six items about the experience, two about the limitations, and five items about the clinical desire for AISS.

Results:

A total of 508 surgeons who were performing laparoscopic surgery responded to the survey. As a result, most of the surgeons needed two more assistants during laparoscopic surgery, and especially a higher rate was shown in gynecologists (90.3%) than general surgeons (71.1%) and urologists (61.4%). The majority of responders answered that the skillfulness of surgical assistants was “Very important” or “Important.” The most uncomfortable thing about laparoscopic surgery was the unskilled movement of the camera (84.8%) and instruments (59.6%). About 40% of responders answered the AI-based surgical assistant system could substitute 41-60% of the current workforce, and 83.3% showed their willingness to buy it. Furthermore, the most reasonable price was 30,000$–50,000$.

Conclusions:

Surgeons who perform laparoscopic surgery may feel discomfort in the conventional laparoscopic surgical system regarding assistants’ skillfulness, and they may think that the skillfulness of surgical assistants is essential. They desire to alleviate the present inconveniences in the conventional laparoscopic surgical system and to perform a safe and comfortable operation by using an AI-based surgical assistant system for AISS.