The role of artificial intelligence in stroke management

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining increasing importance across various domains of life and science, including medicine. In healthcare, AI is primarily applied as part of clinical decision-support systems. These systems utilize automated medical image analysis and extract other relevant clinical information to facilitate diagnostic processes of growing complexity. By doing so, they can make diagnoses faster, more accurate, and consistently high-quality. This contributes to effective and personalized therapeutic decisions while saving time and effort in a sector often burdened by workforce shortages.  Integrated telemedicine solutions further enhance the efficiency of communication among healthcare providers, especially in managing complex patient pathways. Acute stroke care, which demands rapid, imaging-based decision-making involving multiple members of a care network, represents an ideal area for the application of AI-driven decision-support solutions.  In this article, we review the potential and current applications of AI in stroke management, considering its medical, legal-ethical and data safety implications. We briefly describe Hungary’s unique AI-based stroke teleradiology system, which covers the entire national stroke care network. We will demonstrate how AI can significantly improve the quality and efficiency of patient care, however, the successful implementation of AI in healthcare necessitates robust professional and ethical control. Overall, this analysis highlights the transformative role AI can play in stroke care while underscoring the critical importance of maintaining a balance between technological advancements and human oversight to maximize its benefits responsibly.