ZOAHARIAN.COM - A new breakthrough in the world of medicine occurred in England. A patient became the first person in the world to undergo surgery to remove a brain tumor with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) directly during the procedure.

The patient is Rhys Hibbert, a 48 year old man from Bedfordshire, England, and father of two children. Doctors at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) said that without surgery, the condition of the tumor he experienced had the potential to threaten his sight.

The AI ​​technology used in the operation is capable of analyzing video recordings of the operation in real-time. The system then provides the surgeon with information about the position of important structures within the brain, including blood vessels and nerves that are difficult to see directly.

This assistance allows the medical team to remove as much of the tumor as possible while trying to avoid damage to vital surrounding tissue.

“From a patient safety perspective, I really see the benefits. There are no road signs in our heads,” Hibbert said.

11 Millimeter Tumor Near Optic Nerve

About 18 months earlier, Hibbert was still living a normal life. As a customer service manager, he even used to walk about two miles every lunch hour.

However, during one of these trips, he suddenly fainted and began experiencing problems when walking.

Further examination revealed a tumor measuring approximately 11 millimeterson the pituitary gland. The tumor is non-cancerous, but its location is very risky.

The pituitary gland is a small organ at the base of the skull which plays an important role in regulating various body hormones, including growth and metabolic processes as well as a number of functions related to pressure and body temperature.

The problem is, Hibbert's tumor is very close to thecarotid arterythe main blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain as well as theoptic nerve which plays a role in vision.

As the tumor grew, the optic nerve began to become compressed. As a result, Hibbert's peripheral vision increasingly narrowed.

He also started stumbling frequently, experiencing fatigue and feeling dizzy. Although surgery is not considered an action that must be carried out immediately, the condition is slowly affecting his daily activities.

Don't hesitate to be the first patient

For Hibbert, the decision to undergo a procedure with this experimental technology was not an easy matter. However, when doctors offered him the chance to be the first patient to undergo surgery using a special AI system, he immediately agreed.

Hibbert said he wanted to help the development of medical technology so that it could benefit other patients in the future.

“If patients are not ready to participate in research, how can doctors learn and how can medicine advance?” he said.

He also tries to maintain a simple routine in his family life. During 18 years of marriage, Hibbert got used to waking up early and making a cup of coffee for his wife.

“I wasn't going to let this tumor stop me,” he said.

AI Is Not a Replacement for Doctors

In these procedures, AI acts as a assistive tool for surgeons, not a substitute for human medical decisions. The system analyzes images and videos during surgery to help doctors recognize important anatomical structures that may be difficult to see.

Technology like this has the potential to open a new chapter in neurosurgery. If it continues to be developed and proven safe through further research, AI could help doctors perform operations with increasingly high levels of precision.

The success of Hibbert's operation is also an important step in exploring how artificial intelligence can be used directly in the operating room, especially in procedures that require extreme precision and have a high risk to the patient's vital functions.

For Hibbert himself, this success is not just a technological achievement. The surgery was an opportunity to preserve his vision, live a life with his family, and help pave the way for other patients in the future.

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