HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

In a groundbreaking development poised to transform the field of neurosurgery, a prominent neurosurgeon predicts that artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted brain surgery could become a reality within the next two years. Trainee surgeons are actively harnessing this cutting-edge AI technology to enhance their expertise in performing minimally invasive brain surgeries with unparalleled precision.

This pioneering AI technology, originating from the laboratories of University College London, has the remarkable ability to illuminate minute tumours and critical structures, such as intricate blood vessels situated deep within the brain. The British government has expressed optimism that this innovation could prove to be a game-changing advancement for healthcare.

The significance of this development cannot be overstated, as brain surgery demands unparalleled precision and meticulousness. Even the slightest deviation from the intended path can have fatal consequences for patients. The avoidance of any harm to the pituitary gland, a grape-sized organ located at the brain's core, is of paramount importance. This tiny but crucial gland regulates the body's hormonal balance, and any damage to it can lead to devastating consequences, including blindness.

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery consultant neurosurgeon, Hani Marcus, emphasises the critical nature of surgical precision in brain surgery: "If you go too small with your approach, then you risk not removing enough of the tumour. If you go too large, you risk damaging these really critical structures."

Remarkably, the AI system has analysed over 200 surgical videos of pituitary surgeries, achieving a level of experience in just ten months that would typically take a human surgeon a decade to acquire. Mr. Marcus explains the potential of this technology: "Surgeons like myself – even if you're very experienced – can, with the help of AI, do a better job to find that boundary than without it. You could, in a few years, have an AI system that has seen more operations than any human has ever or could ever see."

Trainee surgeon Dr. Nicola Newell also underscores the advantages of AI assistance: "It helps me orientate myself during mock surgery and helps identify what steps and what stages are coming up next."

Viscount Camrose, the AI government minister for the UK, is enthusiastic about the transformative potential of AI in healthcare. He states, "AI makes everybody massively more productive whatever it is you do. It kind of almost makes you the Marvel superhero version of yourself." He believes that this technology has the potential to revolutionise healthcare, promising better outcomes for patients and a very promising future.

University College London (UCL) is among the 22 universities recently granted government funding to spearhead healthcare innovation in the United Kingdom, further underscoring the commitment to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge technology.

Source

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66921926