Will AI Replace Surgical Assistants?

Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.

physical manipulation — Maintaining sterile field requires hands

Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.

physical manipulation — Diagnostic instruments applied to patients by hand

Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.

physical manipulation — Sterile hands-on surgical assistance

Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.

physical manipulation — ALS requires hands-on airway, drugs, defibrillation

Verify the identity of patient or operative site.

data analysis — Patient info verification against records, human confirms

Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.

visual inspection — Hands-on examination of medical instruments

Assist members of surgical team with gowning or gloving.

physical manipulation — Sterile hands-on surgical assistance

Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.

physical manipulation — Maintaining sterile field requires hands

Coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.

physical manipulation — Physically applying safety equipment to people

Determine availability of necessary equipment or supplies for operative procedures.

data analysis — Medical supply inventory records and thresholds automatable

Gather, arrange, or assemble instruments or supplies.

physical manipulation — Physical assembly of medical supplies

Operate sterilizing devices.

physical manipulation — Loading and operating sterilizing equipment by hand

Clamp, ligate, or cauterize blood vessels to control bleeding during surgical entry, using hemostatic clamps, suture ligatures, or electrocautery equipment.

physical manipulation — Diagnostic instruments applied to patients by hand

Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.

physical manipulation — Hands-on treatment of acute conditions

Assess skin integrity or other body conditions upon completion of the procedure to determine if damage has occurred from body positioning.

visual inspection — Skin/hair assessment needs in-person visual and tactile exam

Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.

physical manipulation — Surgery is physical and high-accountability

Assist in the insertion, positioning, or suturing of closed-wound drainage systems.

physical manipulation — Sterile hands-on surgical assistance

Adjust and maintain operating room temperature, humidity, or lighting, according to surgeon's specifications.

physical manipulation — Physical HVAC control adjustment; some BMS automation

Assist in applying casts, splints, braces, or similar devices.

physical manipulation — Applying bandages and splints needs manual dexterity

Remove patient hair or disinfect incision sites to prepare patient for surgery.

physical manipulation — Physical preparation of patients

Monitor patient intra-operative status, including patient position, vital signs, or volume and color of blood.

decision support — In-procedure patient monitoring is hands-on clinical work

Discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.

interpersonal — Treatment planning collaboration is accountable clinical work

Coordinate with anesthesia personnel to maintain patient temperature.

interpersonal — Treatment planning collaboration is accountable clinical work

Incise tissue layers in lower extremities to harvest veins.

physical manipulation — Surgery is physical and high-accountability

Postoperatively inject a subcutaneous local anesthetic agent to reduce pain.

physical manipulation — Anesthesia administration is high-risk hands-on clinical act

Insert or remove urinary bladder catheters.

physical manipulation — Basic health care treatments are hands-on patient work

Assist in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques.

physical manipulation — IV fluid administration requires hands-on clinical skill

Transport patients to operating room.

physical manipulation — Moving patients requires hands-on body handling