Updated PROCESS Guideline for AI in Surgical Case Reports: New Standards for Transparency and Ethics

What is it about?

This article details the update of the PROCESS Guideline 2025, which introduces a new AI-focused domain to enhance transparency and reproducibility in surgical case series involving artificial intelligence. A Delphi consensus exercise was employed to refine the guidelines, involving 49 experts in surgery and scientific fields, who evaluated proposed AI-related items. The exercise achieved a 92% response rate, and consensus was reached on six AI-related items. The revised guidelines require authors to disclose AI involvement in both patient care and manuscript preparation, ensuring transparency regarding AI's role in the research process. The PROCESS 2025 update encourages the clear documentation, explanation, and discussion of AI use, addressing bias and ethical considerations. Ultimately, this update aims to maintain the quality, transparency, and clinical relevance of surgical case series, thereby enhancing their educational value and trustworthiness.

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Why is it important?

This Perspective highlights the significance of updating the PROCESS guidelines to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) considerations in surgical case series reporting. By adapting to the advancements in AI, this update seeks to ensure increased transparency, reproducibility, and ethical integrity in research publications. The inclusion of AI-focused criteria reflects the growing integration of AI in healthcare and aims to maintain the quality and trustworthiness of clinical literature. Key Takeaways: 1. The PROCESS 2025 update introduces a new AI-focused domain to the guidelines, emphasizing the need for clear documentation of AI use in surgical case series, including its implementation and ethical considerations. 2. A Delphi consensus exercise involving 49 surgical and scientific experts led to the development of the updated guidelines, ensuring that the new AI-related items were thoroughly evaluated and agreed upon. 3. The revised guidelines require authors to disclose AI involvement both in patient care and manuscript preparation, aiming to enhance the clarity and reliability of case series in the context of emerging technologies.