Research on Topic Identification and Evolution in Minimally Invasive Surgery Based on LDA and DTM Models

Abstract Purpose Most minimally invasive surgery (MIS) literature analyses focus on minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases or single procedures, lacking a systematic depiction of the field’s overall structure and evolution, while traditional methods suffer from strong subjectivity and limited data scale. This study aims to employ a topic modeling approach to comprehensively map the knowledge graph and evolutionary pathway of the MIS field. Design/methodology/approach A combination of latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) and dynamic topic model (DTM) was used to analyze all MIS articles published between 1985 and 2024 in 37 high-quality, authoritative PubMed journals (including both specialized surgical and comprehensive journals), examining development maturity, chronological distribution, country distribution, author distribution, hot topic identification, and evolution. Findings The number of MIS publications is projected to grow continuously, with the United States leading and China ranking second; a cohort of highly productive scholars has formed. The field can be grouped into five major topic clusters, among which “minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of digestive system (gastrointestinal) diseases” currently has the highest influence and attention. Core subtopics running through the hot topics include minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of colorectal diseases, hernia, and bariatric/metabolic conditions. The research focus of colorectal minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment has shifted from general laparoscopic techniques to refined operations for specific diseases, deeply integrating with precision oncology. Hernia minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment has extended from safety evaluation of basic surgical procedures to instrument innovation, simulation training, and complex hernia management. Bariatric/metabolic minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment has expanded from simple weight-loss surgery to multidisciplinary intersecting areas such as management of metabolic comorbidities, prevention and control of postoperative complications, and health economics. Overall, MIS research is continuously evolving toward greater precision, more systematic integration, and deeper interdisciplinarity. Research limitations The limited journal scope may affect the generalizability of the findings. Practical implications This study reveals the hot topics and evolutionary patterns of MIS research, helping researchers quickly grasp frontier dynamics and providing empirical evidence for hospitals to optimize resource allocation and formulate disciplinary development strategies. Originality/value It pioneers the introduction of topic modeling to systematically mine the vast MIS literature, expanding its application in healthcare services and offering an objective and dynamic cognitive perspective.