Hobart-based doctors use artificial intelligence to diagnose gallstones in the common bile duct

A team of Hobart-based doctors has used artificial intelligence to diagnose gallstones in the common bile duct.

Professor Richard Turner at the RHH. Picture: Chris Kidd

A team of Hobart-based doctors has successfully used artificial intelligence to diagnose gallstones in the common bile duct or choledocholithiasis.

Their research involved 222 patients admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital between 2018 and 2023.

Professor of Surgery at the University of Tasmania’s School of Medicine and Fellow at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Professor Richard Turner, says choledocholithiasis could be life-threatening and he is confident AI will play a strong role in future diagnoses of the condition.

“Anything that assists accurate and timely diagnosis means that appropriate management can be started sooner – leading to better patient outcomes and more efficient use of resources,” he said.

“Choledocholithiasis accounts for approximately 15 per cent of gallstone diagnoses, so it’s important we continually explore innovative technologies like AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline patient care, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

“These tools help accurately identify which patients would benefit from proceeding directly to definitive management of choledocholithiasis, reducing the reliance on MRI exams for patients presenting with acute biliary dysfunction.

“Our studies show patients who received an MRI prior to endoscopic procedures experience prolonged admissions, increased hospital expenses and greater rates of in-hospital complications.”

Professor Richard Turner who is using predictive AI as a diagnostic aid at the RHH. Picture: Chris Kidd

In the research, five machine learning models were developed and tested to retrospectively predict patients’ risk of choledocholithiasis, all of which outperformed existing diagnostic guidelines.

Professor Turner said using predictive AI tools was mutually beneficial for health systems and patients.

“As AI becomes more prevalent, it’s important we learn how to harness its power to remove the guesswork from diagnostic assessment,” he said.

“Embedding these tools into everyday clinical practice has the potential to drastically improve patient flow and resulting overcrowding, cut costs to both patients and health systems, and provide more efficient patient-centred care.

“The ongoing enhancement and validation of these models will further establish their credibility and applicability in optimising patient care and decision-making processes in the management of acute presentations of choledocholithiasis and other biliary tract diseases.

“We’re hopeful our AI model will become the standard practice in Australian hospitals in the future, serving as the initial touchpoint for detecting choledocholithiasis, abating the need for unnecessary MRI exams.”

He said he was currently applying AI models to another common gastrointestinal condition, pancreatitis.

“Early results are encouraging,” he said.

“There are no doubt many another applications – such as improving patient flow in hospitals – to decrease ramping etc.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Strategic says it is committed to championing patient-centred and sustainable healthcare.

It says cutting-edge technologies such as AI can ensure patients receive the highest standards of care into the future.