Digital platform aims to support high-stakes decisions in vascular surgery

In vascular surgery, small decisions can have enormous consequences. A new free tool developed by Texas A&M University staff and students helps vascular surgeons by calculating patient risk and consolidating clinical decision-support tools into a single digital platform.
 
The online platform, called the Vasculator, was designed by Dr. Maham Rahimi, a vascular surgeon at Houston Methodist Hospital and associate professor of surgery and research director in the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed), in collaboration with EnMed students. The artificial intelligence-based tool aggregates pre-existing risk algorithms and incorporates standard-of-care protocols used at Houston Methodist to assist surgeons in assessing patient risk and considering next steps in care.
 
By entering a patient’s symptoms, surgeons can generate quantified risk estimates to inform treatment decisions. The platform draws from prior research and existing data to help clinicians evaluate potential outcomes and weigh possible next steps.
 
Rahimi said the team is also training an artificial intelligence model to answer clinical questions using published and credible data. Once the model is fully tested, it will be integrated into the platform.
 
“A set of vascular surgeons can read 10 papers to come up with a conclusion, or they can ask the Vasculator AI what the next best steps are,” Rahimi said. “It will have access to published data in places like PubMed and Google Scholar, which will allow the Vasculator to summarize short, succinct information that is clinically relevant so physicians can make the best decisions from there.”
 
He emphasizes that the platform is intended to support, not replace, clinical judgment.
 
“The website will reduce cognitive load, standardize best practices and allow clinicians to focus on what matters most: the patient,” Rahimi said.
 
Rahimi and the EnMed students said they used their own experiences in vascular surgery while designing the Vasculator.
 
“Vascular surgery is a very complex, data-heavy and fast-moving industry, but many of the tools we rely on are fragmented, outdated or not designed around how clinicians actually think at a patient’s bedside,” Rahimi said. “The right tool at the right moment matters.”
 
Vascular surgeons often discuss the risks and benefits of a procedure to their patients and give them the opportunity to accept or refuse care, also called informed consent. By quantifying the risks of certain procedures or surgeries based on a patient’s symptoms, vascular surgeons can more accurately and clearly communicate possible outcomes to patients and their families.
 
“For example, a surgeon could enter a patient’s symptoms and calculate a 90% mortality rate within 30 days if they operate,” he said. “They can communicate that to a family member and let them make a decision about whether their loved one goes to the operating room when the risk is incredibly high.”
 
Looking ahead, Rahimi said the goal is to continue updating the Vasculator to reflect current data and the evolving needs of vascular surgeons.
 
“The long-term vision is a living platform that evolves with the field, integrating education, decision support, imaging technology and AI in a responsible way,” he said. “The Vasculator is ultimately a clinician-designed digital platform that brings vascular surgery knowledge, calculation of risk and decision support tools into one intuitive place to help transition guidelines into practice. It is built primarily for vascular surgeons, trainees and multidisciplinary teams, but ultimately the goal is better, safer care for patients.”
 
In addition to Rahimi, the team includes Dr. Adel Hassan and EnMed students Joshua Robert, Keetch Mecham, Abhinaya Muruganandham, Drew Schindler, Duncan Salmon and Bandon Look Fong.