Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed the approach to aortic aneurysms (AA) care, positively impacting patient outcomes. AI has been implemented at Yale’s New-Haven Health for providing improved care to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients.
The use of AI in AAA patient care provides a myriad of benefits including early and accurate flagging of enlarged areas of the aorta on imaging or radiology reports, automated alerts to healthcare providers about critical findings, enhanced clinical outcomes, and the integration into workflows for faster decision-making.
According to vascular and endovascular surgeons Dr. Fischer and Dr. Aboian at Yale, AI has notably impacted AAA disease awareness and management. Prior to AI, managing AAA patients often led to delays. But with AI, CT scans can be evaluated for enlarged abdominal aortas, and if an aneurysm is confirmed, an alert is sent to the healthcare provider leading for prompt action. AI has streamlined the process so patients are swiftly referred to vascular surgery for further evaluation.
Yale experienced notable improvements post AI implementation. Within a span of 5 months, 446 aortic aneurysm patients were identified, with 188 having aneurysms larger than 4cm. AI identified 24% of these aneurysms, previously undetected. AI’s implementation also increased the number of follow-up consultation within 6 months from 18% to 42%; decreased mean time from index imaging to clinic evaluation from 83 days to 22 days; increased the scheduling of long term follow-up from 65% to 99% and decreased the mean time to repair after index imaging from 270 days to 58 days.
The installation of AI requires a dedicated setup, team formation, algorithm training and validation, integration with existing systems, and continuous monitoring and adjustment for accuracy and efficiency. AI’s integration in AA care has significant potential for improving patient outcomes and saving lives by improving disease awareness, streamlining patient management, and ensuring timely intervention.
For health systems considering AI implementation, the benefits include a streamlined approach to managing complex conditions, improved follow-up management, patient retention, and better patient outcomes. Embracing AI can pave the way for a future where advanced technology enhances patient care. The journey of AI has just begun with its successful implementation in AAA care at Yale as a testament to its transformative power.
