Artificial intelligence: Applications in critical care gastroenterology

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) complications frequently necessitate intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Additionally, critically ill patients also develop GI complications requiring further diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. However, these patients form a vulnerable group, who are at risk for developing side effects and complications. Every effort must be made to reduce invasiveness and ensure safety of interventions in ICU patients. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving technology with several potential applications in healthcare settings. ICUs produce a large amount of data, which may be employed for creation of AI algorithms, and provide a lucrative opportunity for application of AI. However, the current role of AI in these patients remains limited due to lack of large-scale trials comparing the efficacy of AI with the accepted standards of care.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Critical care; Gastroenterology; Hepatology; Intensive care unit; Machine learning

Core Tip: The scope and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly increasing. It is being increasingly applied in various fields, even in healthcare settings. The data generated by critically ill patients admitted in intensive care units (ICUs) is huge, which may be helpful in developing AI algorithms aimed to aid in their management. Patients with primary gastrointestinal diseases may frequently require ICU admission for management of advanced disease or related complications. Use of AI may aid the critical care physicians in managing such patients by helping in early diagnosis, prediction of complications, assessing response to therapy and overall prognostication.