116 Advanced Technology in Surgery

Introduction

As one of the oldest forms of practiced medicine there are multiple theories on the origin of surgical practices. Despite the varying stories as to how this field first emerged it’s much easier to see how far it’s come. With the implementation of advanced technologies the surgical field has become one of the most widely developed practices within medicine. With these advancements and changes not only have there been tremendous impacts on the future of this profession but on society as a whole. Advanced technology and the integration of AI in the medical field can be attributed to these changes and progress seen in society.

While there have been proven benefits to using AI and advanced technology in the medical field the ethical and long-term impacts are still being understood. Understanding the impacts of surgical advancements matters for students studying the relationship between science, technology, and society as well as medical providers, patients and anyone impacted by these technologies in society.

Connecting Robotic Surgery to STS

AIs connection to STS can be seen in the way that robotic systems challenge traditional ideas of surgical skill and patient trust. The path dependence theory can be used to compare early successes such as robotic surgery as seen through the successful Da Vinci surgical system to the predicted future of these developments (Bhandari, 2020). It is important to address society’s needs when introducing these technologies in order to uphold surgical precision precision, minimally invasive procedures, and address surgeon shortages while also making improvements on the development of robotic systems. By understanding how this technology works the impacts on society can be better understood and in turn how these systems are reshaping medical practice. It is also important to acknowledge missing voices including those of patients, nurses and under healthcare workers who may not have been considered. Since this process is largely industry driven the perspective of those directly impacted may have been overlooked in this process. Concerns such as accessibility, ethicality, and patient care need to be understood in order to effectively introduce these technologies.

1. Early Development of Robotic Surgery

Before the integration of robots and advanced technology the surgical field was a relatively  developed field. With evidence of objects being used to provide medical treatment dating back to 10,000 BCE the surgical field has undergone countless developments. Dating all the way back to Ancient Egypt early practices involved the use of sharpened rocks to relieve intracranial pressure through a process of trephination (Aggarwal, 2010). Overtime countless new methods have been devised taking into account safety measures, new medical knowledge and techniques with the goal of making surgical treatment more effective and less invasive. The surgical field as we know it today can be attributed to innovations that stemmed from societies increased reliance on this form of treatment. Along with the need for surgical treatment, a growing dependency on the internet and technological developments such as AI have had tremendous impacts on these practices. These changes allow for more efficient and precise surgical techniques to be carried out in order to minimize the risk of invasive procedures and human error (Iftikhar, 2024).

2. The Integration of AI into Robotic Surgery

The different types of AI models being used include machine learning for pattern recognition, computer vision for identifying tissues, predictive analytics for surgical planning, autonomous or semi‑autonomous robotic actions. AI is used in the surgical field in order to assist with the development of patient centered care plans, rehabilitation and can even be seen through the use of robotic surgery tools. AI has been able to transform the technology used in medicine by revolutionizing the way that patients, surgeons and society interact. The introduction of advanced technology in medicine has been proven to be beneficial in a variety of ways. AI has been able to not only transform the way that healthcare workers and patients interact but have even shown improvements in technique, surgical precision, customization of treatment plans and increasing access to care (Ansari, 2025).

3. Impacts on Patients

When looking at the integration of AI in medicine the most important factor to consider is the impact it will have on patients. When utilizing AI technology surgeons are able to optimize the speed and outcome for patients. Some of the recognized benefits of using AI and robotics in surgery include smaller incisions, faster recovery, reduced blood loss, increased precision and even improved access to procedures (Malik, 2025). However there are some present concerns such as potential quality and ethical considerations. For example AI models have the tendency to discriminate due to algorithmic bias in AI‑guided decisions. There is also uncertainty present in regards to data privacy and ownership. Since AI models utilized centralized data storage systems the potential for cyber attacks could compromise sensitive patient medical data. AI models also rely on being provided information to learn and when compiling medical information from multiple sources. When repurposing aggregated data in this manner it is hard to maintain ownership and uphold patient consent. These challenges can be addressed by implementing measures such as end to end encryption and access codes to limit and protect access to confidential information.

4. Impacts on Surgeons and Medical Professionals

The introduction of this technology has a tremendous impact on surgeons and healthcare systems as a whole. The integration of AI in healthcare systems will not only allow these operations to run smoothly and more efficiently but they can do so at a decreased cost. Surgeons have the ability to become operators of complex systems rather than purely manual practitioners. AI can be used by practitioners as a guide or assistant during surgeries (McCartney, 2023). AI also has the potential to anticipate future events during operations, test outcomes and solve issues at a much faster rate.

The potential downsides of these developments however include the possibility of high costs and reduced need for certain jobs when integrating robotic and AI technology in the operating room. In order to overcome the fear of job loss, ethical considerations and tension that comes with introducing advanced technology more research needs to be conducted on these challenges. Because these systems are highly intelligent there are concerns surrounding their ability to replace human healthcare workers. Since these systems are able to carry out certain roles in a more efficient and less invasive manners healthcare workers are having to find new ways to adapt to the introduction of these technologies. By finding ways to work alongside AI driven systems instead of using them replace workers concerns regarding job security in these fields can be mitigated.

5. Broader Impacts

There has been promise shown in the societal impact of introducing this technology in the medical field. One of the most tremendous benefits of introducing this technology into the operating room is the potential to increase access and affordability of healthcare (Ansari 2025). The broader impacts of introducing advanced technology and robotics in healthcare do come with various overarching complications including economic implications. While these technologies have the ability to make healthcare more affordable for patients the cost of introducing these robotic systems is an overriding issue. In addition to the economic constraints the models require data to be provided in order to train these tools which introduces the potential for violations in privacy and data secrecy and increased regulatory challenges to approve AI driven tools and algorithms (Bhandari, 2020). While capability of these algorithms is still being uncovered the new advancements and innovations show promise in positively benefiting society long term.

Conclusion

Looking at the ways that robotic surgery has evolved from mechanical assistance to AI‑enhanced systems shows promise for its future application in medicine. The improved outcomes of this technology and theories on how AI will enhance not only surgery but medicine as a whole shows promise for future developments. However the dual nature of technological progress does introduce new ethical and social challenges. There are still questions to be answered as to the extent in which this technology should be used due to the potential risk of diagnostic error, negative impacts on patient care and a variety of quality issues associated with AI and robotic surgery technology (Adham, 2024). However with the current work being done by engineers and researchers there is promise shown by the integration of these innovations in shaping the future of healthcare.

References

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Aggarwal, A. (2010, February). The evolving relationship between surgery and medicine. Virtual Mentor, 12(2), 119–123. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2010.12.2.mhst1-1002

Ansari, Z. J., Aher, A., & Thitame, S. N. (2025). Advancements in Robotics and AI Transforming Surgery and Rehabilitation. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences, 17, S46–S48. https://doi-org.libproxy.clemson.edu/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1937_24

Bhandari, M., Zeffiro, T., & Reddiboina, M. (2020). Artificial intelligence and robotic surgery: current perspective and future directions. Current opinion in urology, 30(1), 48–54. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOU.0000000000000692

Ohio’s Care. (n.d.). What is da Vinci robotic surgery? OH Care. https://ohcare.com/what-is-da-vinci-robotic-surgery/

Iftikhar, M., Saqib, M., Zareen, M., & Mumtaz, H. (2024). Artificial intelligence: Revolutionizing robotic surgery: Review. Annals of Medicine & Surgery, 86(9), 5401–5409. https://doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000002426

Malik, A.P., Ahmad, W. & Iqbal, J. The AI Surge in Surgery (2025). Evolution, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 53, 1989–1992. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-025-03813-z

McCartney, J. (2023, June 7). AI is poised to “revolutionize” surgery. American College of Surgeons Bulletin. https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/news-publications/news-and-articles/bulletin/2023/june-2023-volume-108-issue-6/ai-is-poised-to-revolutionize-surgery/ (facs.org)

AI Acknowledgement Statement

This chapter outline was developed with assistance from an AI‑based writing tool to support idea generation, organization, and clarity. All interpretations, arguments, and final framing reflect the author’s own analysis and perspective.