British surgeons have used artificial intelligence to assist brain surgery live in real time for the first time in the world. The procedure was performed on 48-year-old Rhys Hibbert at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.

Hibbert had a benign 11 mm tumor on his pituitary gland that was pressing on his optic nerves and narrowing his peripheral vision. According to doctors, without surgery he risked losing his sight.

Surgeons accessed the tumor using an endoscope inserted through the nose. During the procedure, an AI-powered tool analyzed the live camera feed, tracked the surgical instruments and highlighted areas where important blood vessels and nerves were most likely to be located. This helped doctors determine where the tumor could be removed safely. The surgeons remained in full control throughout.

Researchers trained and evaluated the system using hundreds of recordings of pituitary tumor operations. According to Professor Hani Marcus, it can act as an “expert second pair of eyes”.

Eight weeks after the surgery, Hibbert said his vision was continuing to improve, his energy had returned and the symptoms he had experienced before the operation had disappeared. Researchers are now preparing a larger trial of the technology.

(BBC, lud)