Rhys Hibbert, a 48-year-old customer services manager from Bedfordshire, has successfully completed brain surgery assisted by artificial intelligence in real time at University College London Hospital. Hibbert had developed an 11mm non-cancerous tumor on his pituitary gland following a seizure he experienced during a routine walk. As the tumor expanded, it began compressing his optic nerves, causing his peripheral vision to narrow and contributing to fatigue and dizziness over an 18-month period.
The surgical procedure involved inserting an endoscope through the nose to reach the tumor at the base of the skull. Given the delicate anatomy surrounding the tumor, including vital carotid arteries and optic nerves, surgeons faced complication risks including a 25–50% chance of incomplete tumor removal and a 0.5–2% chance of major blood vessel injury. The AI tool developed at UCL analyzed the live video feed from the endoscope during the operation, tracked surgical instruments, and identified the locations of blood vessels and nerves to guide surgeons toward the safest extraction approach.
The AI system was trained and evaluated using hundreds of videos of similar pituitary tumor removal surgeries, with researchers carefully marking anatomical structures to enable the system to recognize critical features. According to Prof Hani Marcus, who helped perform the procedure, the AI tool functions like a specialized second pair of eyes, having learned from more operations than most surgeons perform in a career. The researchers emphasized that surgeons retained full control throughout the operation, with the AI serving as an advisory tool rather than making autonomous decisions.
Following the surgery, Hibbert reported significant improvements in his vision and energy levels. Within eight weeks, he noted continued vision improvements and the resolution of previous side effects. The research was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Google. The team plans to conduct a larger trial and aspires to develop a comprehensive AI advisory system for surgeons that could provide expert guidance in the operating room.
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