The Cutting Edge: The Future of Surgery

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Health.AI

5 min readJun 15, 2017

In the next decade the line between digital technologies and the physical world will become less obvious. Intelligent machines will make better predictions and diagnoses, and recognize patterns in clinical data that will improve patient care. Cutting-edge imaging technology will let surgeons view anatomy in ways they never thought possible and help guide their instruments as they make safer and more effective cuts. We’re truly on the cusp of incredible technological breakthroughs that promise to blow away your expectations of what can be accomplished in the OR. Here are a few eye-opening developments that hint at the promise of what’s to come.

• Machine learning. Massive amounts of clinical data are being produced on a daily basis and researchers are sifting through the information, looking for patterns that unlock the secrets to improved patient care. Venture capitalists are investing huge amounts of money into Big Data, because there have been interesting developments over the past few years in the way data science is changing healthcare practice. Although there aren’t yet many products that allow the average surgical facility to harness the power of data, tapping into clinical information to improve surgical outcomes is a development you need to monitor.

Imaging platforms are becoming capable of “seeing” what’s happening during surgery through computer algorithms connected to laparoscopic and arthroscopic cameras, a development that has significant clinical implications. Semi-intelligent computer systems that have been trained on hundreds of thousands of hours of surgical video can recognize specific steps of surgery, identify potential complications and warn surgeons when they approach challenging parts of a procedure. The “smart” systems can also automate dictation by generating op notes as a surgery progresses.

Computers are able to understand and describe steps of a surgery.

• Augmented and virtual reality. These flashy technologies are futuristic in concept but are still in the very early stages of adoption. As their hardware and software continues to develop, they have the potential to enhance patient care by augmenting a surgeon’s abilities through training stimulators, surgical planning and intraoperative consultation. Surgeons wearing augmented reality headsets can send point-of-view live feeds of the operative site to outside experts anywhere in the world for real-time advice. Surgical team members who wear augmented reality headsets can also pull up patient records or pre-op images in a hand-free environment without averting their gaze from the sterile field.

Augmented reality shows the surgeon a 3D map of a patient’s nasal system while operating on the patient

• 3D printing. As the cost of the printers decrease and the materials become more abundant, the technology is fast becoming a tool that can be used in research and in the clinical setting to create disposable tools, highly customized implants and anatomical teaching tools. The sky’s truly the limit with respect to the potential benefits afforded by this technology.

3D printed models in skull reconstruction surgery

• Patient-centered communication. Using telemedicine to provide personalized care has never been more possible and the opportunity to stay in constant touch with patients through apps and online portals is truly amazing.

Be ready to adapt

Surgical professionals need to buy into the belief that adding new technology results in significant clinical benefit and perioperative efficiencies. There are two types of surgeons: Younger docs looking for innovative ways to establish their careers who are open to trying new things and experienced surgeons with preferred surgical techniques and behaviors who aren’t necessarily looking to adopt new technologies. Ultimately, surgeons have to believe in the tools they use, and it’s often challenging to change their deep-rooted beliefs.

Will turning your ORs into high-tech wonders require waiting until the new generation of surgeons becomes more established in their careers? Perhaps. The more that new technology is introduced at academic learning centers, the more residents will train with the latest innovations and look to incorporate them into their practices. Push from industry and patient demand will also help drive adoption of the latest surgical tools and devices. Patients who expect to be operated on with cutting-edge technologies will force surgeons and facilities to seek a competitive edge by adding surgery’s most current platforms.

Early adopters are needed before any new developments become accepted. They’re the ones who truly believe in the technology’s first generation, even if it’s not performing as well as it should be, and drive its use until later adopters eventually buy in. If you don’t have the courage or interest in being a futuristic trailblazer, it’s safer to wait 6 months to a year after a new technology is launched to see what kind of response it generates. It’s also important to draw a line between sexy new marketing tool and useful new technology by looking for unbiased evidence that backs claims of clinical or business benefit.

But don’t let the details cloud your vision of what’s next. Minimally invasive techniques have brought more complex procedures to the outpatient setting and continue to drive the development of technologies that make surgery better. Keep an open mind to new developments in surgical innovations and the seemingly endless possibilities of surgery’s high-tech future.

The Cutting Edge: The Future of Surgery

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Written by Jon Kanevsky, MD, FRCSC