Surgery in the Modern Era: Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics

Innovation in surgery has dramatically accelerated during the last few decades. Once dominated by open techniques, surgical practice has progressively shifted toward minimally invasive approaches that prioritize patient safety, faster recovery, and enhanced precision. Among these, laparoscopy has become foundational in general, gastrointestinal, and bariatric surgery, transforming how surgeons approach complex pathologies. Parallel advances in imaging technologies, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) are ushering in an era of even greater capability-offering unparalleled visualization, computational support, and potential autonomy in surgical care. This book synthesizes these breakthroughs and explores how they are shaping the future of surgery across multiple dimensions: advanced laparoscopic techniques, real time imaging innovations, bariatric procedures with cutting edge tools, and the integration of robotics and AI. In this introduction, we set the stage by tracing the evolution of surgical technology, highlighting the clinical rationales for these developments, and emphasizing their implications for patients and clinicians alike.