Neurosurgeons in London have carried out the world's first successful AI-assisted operation to remove a brain tumour. Health officials confirmed the surgery, performed in May, saved the sight of a 48-year-old man.
The procedure took place at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), part of University College London hospitals NHS foundation trust. Details were kept confidential until Thursday to allow the patient, Rhys Hibbert, to recover.
During the operation, an AI system analysed live camera footage, assisting the surgical team by identifying key structures such as nerves and blood vessels near the 11mm tumour on Mr Hibbert's pituitary gland. Surgeons maintained full control throughout the procedure.
Mr Hibbert, from Bedfordshire, reported clear vision immediately after the surgery and was able to walk independently within a week. He has since returned to work as a customer service manager.
The AI technology, previously used as a research tool by the hospital, helps surgeons recognise tiny brain anatomy by colour-coding important structures. Health officials noted that a millimetre's error in this area could lead to blindness, stroke, or death.
Dr Sophia Bano, an associate professor in robotics and AI at UCL and the technical lead for the AI system, stated the system learns from numerous surgical videos, offering a breadth of examples that would take a surgeon many years to encounter.