Surgeons at UCL Hospital perform first live AI-assisted brain tumour removal

Surgeons at University College Hospital in London have carried out the world's first brain tumour removal using live artificial intelligence assistance. The operation, part of a trial, was performed on Rhys Hibbert, a 48-year-old father of two, who could have lost his sight without the procedure.

The tumour was pressing on the pituitary gland, deep at the base of the brain, and sat close to the carotid arteries and optic nerves. Surgeons said that going even one millimetre in the wrong direction could be catastrophic, causing a stroke, blindness, or even death.

To reduce that risk, the surgical team developed an AI tool trained on more than a thousand previous videos of this type of operation, far more than most surgeons would see in a lifetime. During the surgery, the AI analysed a live feed in real time and marked on a screen exactly where the critical vessels and nerves were, as well as the safest place to remove the tumour. The surgeons remained in charge at all times, but the AI acted as an extra pair of eyes.

Professor Hani Marcus, the lead surgeon, said he is convinced AI will become increasingly common in operating theatres. "It's just another pair of eyes or another intelligence helping the surgeon do the job slightly better," he said. He added that in the years to come, AI will be the best solution to a patient's disease, working alongside the surgeon.

Mr Hibbert has since had his tumour removed and his sight has returned to normal. He told the BBC that he now walks miles every day. His balance, which had been impaired before the operation, is also improving.

The procedure took place at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, part of UCL Hospitals. The team behind the trial hopes that, if successful, the AI tool could make surgery safer and faster for many patients. AI is already used in diagnostics, such as reading mammograms and x-rays, but this marks a significant step into the operating theatre.