[Telemedicine and AI-supported diagnostics in the daily routine of visceral medicine]

Advances in telemedicine, exemplified by augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are rapidly progressing. For instance, AR available over long distances has already been successfully utilized in crisis intervention, such as in war zones. The potential of telemedicine also appears promising in structurally weak areas or in the involvement of experts in emergency situations. Further research and development are needed on the avatars used in such telemedicine approaches to improve the sense of presence and thereby increase acceptance. Artificial intelligence (AI) in endoscopy, particularly in colonoscopy, is already a routine practice in many gastroenterology departments. The benefits are clearly evidenced by an increased adenoma detection rate (ADR). Studies have also shown a higher detection rate for sessile serrated adenomas (SSA) compared to the control group as well as a significantly increased rate of dysplastic Barrett's areas in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract (potential Barrett's carcinomas).