Key Takeaways
In Ukraine, the medical role of AI has evolved from limited use to wide-ranging applications in evacuation, diagnosis, predictive analytics, and treatment of wounded soldiers.
An analysis of 68 wounded soldiers showed that by analyzing data in real time from wearable medical devices, AI enhanced treatment by assisting medical personnel in delivering personalized care based on a soldier's medical history, condition, and available resources.
The researchers found that AI not only accelerated drug delivery, identified new treatments for injuries, and supported artificial limb fit and selection for soldiers with limb loss
CHICAGO (October 3, 2025) — Analyzing data in real-time from artificial intelligence (AI)-powered wearable medical devices has enhanced the treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers by helping medical personnel deliver personalized care based on the soldier's medical history, condition, and available resources, according to a new study.
The research will be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2025 in Chicago, October 4-7.
An analysis showed that AI-powered wearable devices such as electrocardiographs (ECGs), glucose and blood pressure monitors, multi-sensor vital patches, and advanced smart helmets tracked vital signs and alerted medical personnel to potential health risks in 68 patients with gunshot and mine-explosive injuries, the study said.
"Although we don't know the extent of improvement, there is clear, consistent, and robust evidence that AI led to faster identification of life-threatening injuries, faster arrival of supplies and drugs, and stronger rehabilitation outcomes," said the study's author Evgeni Kolesnikov, MD, PhD, FICS, FIMSA, of Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine in Kyiv.
Key Findings
The study showed that AI:
Accelerated drug delivery: AI-driven clinical decision support analyzed soldiers' vital signs to recommend optimal drug dosing for conditions such as shock, pain, or infection, Dr. Kolesnikov said. In addition, AI triage algorithms prioritized limited supplies of drugs, such as morphine, tranexamic acid, and ketamine, for patients with the highest likelihood of survival.
Identified new treatments for injuries: AI analyzed millions of chemical structures to predict which compounds could stop bleeding, prevent infection, or accelerate wound healing in combat-related injuries. AI also helped identify drugs (like existing anti-inflammatories) that could be repurposed to speed tissue regeneration after blast injuries and identified biomarkers of poor healing, infection risk, or organ failure.
Supported artificial limb selection: AI is transforming how artificial limbs (prosthetics) are selected, fitted, and personalized for wounded soldiers with limb loss, improving their quality of life. For example, AI analyzes 3D imaging scans of the damaged limb to help design and custom-fit components of artificial limbs with millimeter-level precision, reducing skin breakdown and pain.
The role of AI in providing medical care to wounded soldiers has evolved over the course of the war from limited practical use to a wide range of applications in evacuation, diagnosis, predictive analytics, and treatment of wounded soldiers with AI system-level coordination, Dr. Kolesnikov said. For example, using AI, Ukrainian troops can help evacuate wounded soldiers by assessing the terrain, avoiding obstacles, and locating the wounded. When sending medics poses an unacceptable risk, ground vehicles with autonomous navigation systems can be sent to evacuate casualties from the front lines, he said.
Although there is no central intelligence that receives all of the relevant patient data from the various devices and makes recommendations, Ukraine's military medical system relies on built-in AI modules, such as AI for triage (vital signs and injury assessment), AI for route optimization, and AI for image interpretation, among others, which are then integrated through command-and-control platforms.
"AI does not replace doctors and surgeons, but expands their capabilities, reducing evacuation times, increasing the accuracy of diagnostics and surgical treatment, helping to save more lives with limited resources," Dr. Kolesnikov said.
Disclosures: The author has no relevant disclosures.
Citation: Kolesnikov E. Artificial Intelligence in the Evacuation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Wounded Soldiers During Wartime, Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2025.
Note: This research was presented as an abstract at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum. Research abstracts presented at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum are reviewed and selected by a program committee but are not yet peer reviewed.
