Artificial intelligence and pediatric surgery: where are we?

Abstract

Here, we explore the transformative effects of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and GEMINI, on pediatric surgery, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care, as well as their influence on medical education and patient communication. We discuss the role of AI in enhancing surgical precision, facilitating personalized care strategies throughout all surgical phases, and improving learning for healthcare professionals and students. AI's application in intraoperative settings, providing real-time decision support and augmenting surgical accuracy, underscores how AI can contribute to safer surgical outcomes. LLMs ability to explain medical terms and create easy-to-understand educational materials demonstrates its potential in medical education and patient communication. We also acknowledge the challenges of using AI, including ethical issues, data privacy concerns, and the imperative for human oversight. Despite these challenges, AI holds the potential to significantly enhance pediatric surgery, healthcare education, and patient care, and we recommend a careful but optimistic approach to its adaptation.