Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital Introduces AI-Powered Robotic Cholecystectomy to Reduce Bile Duct Injuries

AI Model Developed to Identify Calot's Triangle with 86% Accuracy
"Enhancing Surgical Precision to Minimize Complications"

Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital announced on January 20 that it is performing image recognition artificial intelligence (AI)-based robotic surgery to reduce bile duct injuries during cholecystectomy.

AI-assisted cholecystectomy showing the identification of the Calot's triangle. Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital

Although the number of cholecystectomy procedures is increasing due to the rising incidence of gallstones, this surgery is considered high-risk for bile duct injury because it is difficult to accurately distinguish the Calot's triangle during the operation. If a bile duct injury occurs, it can lead to serious complications such as bile leakage.

The research team led by Professor Taeseok Yoo from the Department of Surgery at Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital developed a model that uses image recognition AI to identify the Calot's triangle in real time during surgery. This model automatically marks the boundaries of the Calot's triangle based on ICG (indocyanine green) fluorescence cholangiography images, assisting the surgeon's decision-making process.

The research team trained the AI by analyzing 3,796 images from patients who underwent laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy between 2018 and 2021. Performance evaluation showed an average accuracy of 86%, a precision of 91%, and a recall rate of 81%. The AI demonstrated stable performance regardless of patient body type, degree of inflammation, or changes in the surgical environment.

Since March last year, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital has been applying this AI model in actual surgeries. The hospital explained that this has helped reduce the risk of bile duct injury and contributed to shortening both the operation time and the length of hospital stay.

Professor Yoo stated, "Even in situations where anatomical structures are unclear, AI plays a supportive role in enhancing surgical safety," adding, "It will help create a more precise and safer environment for cholecystectomy."

Taeseok Yoo, Professor of Surgery at Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital. Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital