Artificial intelligence in surgery: evolution, trends, and future directions

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Surgical Technology
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into surgical practices.
• AI enhances surgical precision, decision-making, and patient outcomes.
• Understanding AI's research landscape in surgery is crucial for future development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of AI's impact on surgery.
• To identify research trends, key contributors, and evolving themes from 1998 to 2024.
• To highlight the growth and interdisciplinary nature of AI in surgical research.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 821 articles from the Web of Science Core Collection (1998-2024).
• Utilized the Bibliometrix tool for data analysis.
• Examined publication trends, author and institutional impact, country contributions, and keyword frequency.

Main Results:

• A significant 14.53% annual growth rate in publications, from 1 in 1998 to 328 in 2023.
• Identified key contributors (e.g., HASHIMOTO DA, ITO M) and leading institutions (Harvard, Stanford) and countries (USA, China).
• Core research areas include surgery, AI, classification, diagnosis, and outcomes, with a thematic shift towards advanced applications.

Conclusions:

• AI integration is revolutionizing surgery, improving precision, efficiency, and patient care.
• Continued interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation are essential for advancing AI in surgery.
• Future research should focus on AI application enhancement, data challenges, and diverse surgical contexts.