Image-Based Deep Learning Models Can Predict Abdominal Surgery Outcomes: Study

Deep learning is a type of machine learning in which a model learns to perform classification tasks directly from images, text or sound. Image-based deep learning models (DLMs) have been used in other disciplines, but this method has yet to be used to predict surgical outcomes. With this background, researchers carried out a study to examine whether deep learning models (DLMs) using routine preoperative imaging can predict surgical complexity and outcomes in abdominal wall reconstruction. They applied image-based deep learning to predict complexity, defined as need for component separation, and pulmonary and wound complications after abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). This quality improvement study was performed at an 874-bed hospital and tertiary hernia referral center from September 2019 to January 2020.