PGI doctor develops AI model of treatment for ulcerative colitis

A doctor at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) has developed the first model of treatment in ulcerative colitis based on artificial intelligence (AI).

The model can accurately predict the treatment and severity of ulcerative colitis in patients.

“It can help save the lives of many patients suffering from ulcerative colitis,” said professor UC Ghoshal, head of department gastroenterology and the man behind the invention.

“The research has taken 12 long years and the model has been tested in 263 patients,” claimed Ghoshal.

“Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease. It causes irritation, inflammation and ulcers in the lining of large intestine. Usually patients of ulcerative colitis come with complaint of discharging stool around 10 to 12 times in a day. In such patients it is hard to decide the course of action as it has been observed that in 10 to 12 percent of such patients currently prevalent treatment with immune suppressive don’t work,” said the doctor.

“In such patients only, biological medicines are given but many times these medicines don’t work too. In such circumstances immediate surgery is required,” he said.

Since doctors usually take a longer time in deciding about the operation in such patients it has been observed in many cases that the patient and his family hesitate in going for an operation due to the large amount of money, they had already spent on treatment

With this model, the doctors can reach a conclusion immediately and take the decision of operation without delay, he said while claiming that the research has been accepted by the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.”

As per the model, the information of patients’ level of albumin, haemoglobin, platelets and 25 other such parameters are loaded in the programme and it comes out with the information about the treatment required for the patient. It also tells whether the patient needs immediate operation or needs medication.

Earlier, Dr Ghoshal had also given the first AI model of treatment in Liver Cirrhosis. Many times, patients don’t get proper advice in time when to go for a transplant in case of liver cirrhosis.

This model has also been accepted by International journals.