THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING ON CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY: POTENTIAL FOR REDUCING INEQUITIES IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS esandan72@gmail.com

PW03-02

THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING ON CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY: POTENTIAL FOR REDUCING INEQUITIES IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS

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Nigeria

Poster with Discussion

Cardiothoracic surgery faces mounting challenges, particularly in low-resource settings with limited access to surgical care. With the majority of cardiovascular deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, the shortage of specialists and infrastructure demands urgent innovation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) emerge as promising tools to bridge these gaps.

Electronics searches were made in Pubmed, Google Scholar and Wiley Online Library. Key search terms were “Artificial Intelligence” , “Machine Learning", “Cardiothoracic Surgery”, “Innovations”, “Challenges”, “Low income” and their equivalents. Studies were selected based on relevance to surgical access, training, diagnostics, and healthcare equity.

AI and ML enhance surgical outcomes through better diagnostics, workflow optimization, and virtual training. These technologies can improve risk prediction, streamline preoperative planning, and support real-time intraoperative decisions. In LMICs, they hold particular promise by enabling telemedicine, facilitating remote consultations, and reducing diagnostic errors that often delay treatment. AI-powered virtual training platforms can expand the skill sets of local surgeons, helping address workforce shortages. Additionally, automation of routine tasks can free specialists to focus on complex cases, increasing departmental efficiency. Despite barriers such as poor infrastructure and ethical concerns, strategic implementation can significantly reduce global surgical inequities.

Future directions include developing context-specific AI/ML solutions, expanding real-time decision-support systems, fostering research tailored to LMIC needs and fostering partnerships between technology companies, academic institutions, and healthcare providers. Policymakers must prioritize infrastructure investment, clinician training, and robust ethical frameworks to ensure safe and equitable implementation, improving access, outcomes, and inclusivity in global cardiothoracic surgery.