Innovations and New Technologies in Gastrointestinal Surgery

Abstract

Introduction. Innovations in surgery have advanced significantly in the last decade. The new technologies in minimally invasive surgery, including robotics, advanced endoscopy, and the progress in artificial intelligence and machine learning are impacting gastrointestinal surgery and medicine. These technologies have been available since 1956, and in the early 1970’s, they were implemented for first time with the Mycin system, which was developed to detect infectious diseases in blood. Objective. To describe the experiences of new technology innovations in surgery, in terms of novel interventions, development of devices, and the process of adopting these technologies in the clinical practice. Methodology. Personal reflections about the process of adopting new technologies in surgery and its future implications, documented from my perspective as an academic surgeon. Results and discussion. This article summarizes the most relevant advances in the field of gastrointestinal surgery during the last decade. Conclusions. Adopting a culture of innovation in surgery involves knowledge of the process, technical resources available to support initiatives, access to mentors or tutors, and support services.