First of its kind: the first AI-assisted brain surgery saves the sight of a 48-year-old man

Neurosurgeons at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in London, part of the University College London Hospitals (NHS Foundation Trust) network, have performed the world's first AI-assisted brain operation to remove a brain tumour. The procedure saved the sight of Rhys Hibbert, a 48-year-old man, according to health authority representatives.

The operation took place in May but has only now been made public

The procedure was carried out in May, though details were only announced on Thursday, after the patient had completed his recovery period. Throughout the operation, the medical team retained full control of the procedure, whilst the artificial intelligence system interpreted the surgical video footage in real time, helping to identify the nerves and blood vessels surrounding the tumour. The growth measured just 11 mm and was located on Hibbert's pituitary gland.

First use on a real patient

The AI system identifies very small anatomical structures in the brain by highlighting them in different colours, thereby helping surgeons to locate them more reliably. The hospital had already been using this technology for research purposes, but Hibbert's operation was the first instance in which it was applied directly to a patient.

The area operated on is considered one of the most hazardous in the brain: the pituitary gland, blood vessels, and the nerves responsible for vision are situated extremely close together, and a single millimetre error can result in blindness, stroke, or death, according to health authority representatives.

The patient's recovery

One week after the operation, Hibbert was able to walk unaided, without glasses or a walking stick. "When I came round, I could see everything in the room very clearly," he recalled. He has since returned to work, where he holds the position of customer service manager. "I have the sensation of having a 360-degree panoramic view of everything around me," the patient added.

How the artificial intelligence was trained

Dr Sophia Bano, Associate Professor in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at University College London (UCL) and the system's technical lead, explained that it was trained on hundreds of video recordings from previous surgical procedures. "The system has been exposed to a wide range of surgical examples that a surgeon would need many years to encounter," she said. The technology is designed to recognise essential anatomical structures, surgical instruments, and tissue interactions in real time, thereby providing support during highly complex procedures.

Diagnosis in 2024

Hibbert had been diagnosed in 2024 and was initially treated without surgery. Over time, however, his condition deteriorated, with a severe hormonal imbalance and vision problems developing. According to health authority representatives, without this operation the man was at risk of losing his sight entirely.