# AI-assisted brain tumor surgery and UK surgical AI trials > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ai-assisted-brain-tumor-surgery-in-london > Updated: 2026-09-09T13:26:00.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 4. Surgeons at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London have performed the first brain tumor removal using real-time artificial intelligence assistance. The procedure involved the removal of an 11mm benign tumor from the pituitary gland of 48-year-old Rhys Hibbert. Developed by researchers at the UCL Hawkes Institute and funded by Google and the NIHR, the AI system analyzes live video feeds during surgery to identify and color-code critical anatomical structures, such as blood vessels and nerves. This real-time guidance is designed to help surgical teams navigate complex regions and avoid accidental damage that could result in blindness, stroke, or death. The technology was trained on hundreds of previous surgical videos to recognize anatomical variations that may differ from static pre-operative scans. During this clinical trial, surgeons Hani Marcus and Danyal Khan maintained full control over the procedure, utilizing the AI as a decision-support tool rather than an autonomous robot. The tumor was situated near critical structures, including the carotid arteries and optic nerves. Following the surgery, the patient, who had experienced peripheral vision loss, fatigue, and mobility issues, reported significant improvement in vision and regained independent mobility within a week. Building on these developments, AI is increasingly being integrated into live surgical environments across the United Kingdom through new clinical trials and large-scale deployments. In a separate initiative, Proximie has launched a year-long evaluation program in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, Deloitte, and eight NHS hospitals. This program aims to deploy the Proximie Intelligence Suite across 104 operating theatres, endoscopy suites, and catheterization laboratories to capture anonymized data, identify bottlenecks, and optimize hospital workflows. ## Claims - Neurosurgeons at UCLH performed the world's first successful AI-assisted brain tumor removal. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The AI system analyzed live video during the surgery to highlight nerves and blood vessels. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The surgery successfully removed an 11-millimeter pituitary tumor and preserved the patient's vision. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The AI acted as a support tool rather than an autonomous robot, leaving final decisions to the surgeons. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The AI system was trained on hundreds of surgical videos to recognize critical anatomy and tissue interactions. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: AI technology enters live surgical environments in UK trials New AI technologies are entering UK operating rooms, including a real-time neurosurgical guidance trial at UCL and a large-scale NHS deployment by Proximie to optimize surgical workflows. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ai-technology-enters-live-surgical-environments-in-uk-trials ### 2026-09-06: London surgeons perform world's first AI-assisted brain surgery Surgeons in London successfully performed the first AI-assisted brain surgery, using real-time video analysis to identify critical nerves and blood vessels while removing a pituitary tumor. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ai-assists-in-live-brain-surgery-trial-in-the-uk ### 2026-09-03: AI system assists surgeons in successful brain tumor removal Surgeons in London successfully used a real-time AI system to remove a pituitary tumor, saving a patient's vision by identifying critical nerves and blood vessels during the operation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ai-system-assists-surgeons-in-successful-brain-tumor-removal ### 2026-08-31: London surgeons perform world-first AI-assisted brain tumor surgery London surgeons successfully performed the first-ever brain tumor removal using real-time AI assistance to identify critical nerves and vessels, saving a patient's sight. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ai-assisted-brain-surgery-saves-patients-sight-in-world-first --- Cite as: AI-assisted brain tumor surgery and UK surgical AI trials. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ai-assisted-brain-tumor-surgery-in-london