Surgeons in the UK have successfully carried out the UK’s first brain aneurysm clipping, performed by keyhole surgery through the eye socket.
The pioneering procedure took place at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust by a specialist craniomaxillofacial team and marks another milestone in the use of minimally invasive surgery.
The 60-year-old patient underwent a planned procedure. He was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm during an MRI scan at Leeds General Infirmary in Spring 2025 and received ongoing care by specialists at the Trust to monitor the condition.
Rather than performing traditional open surgery to clip the patient’s aneurysm, the team used an innovative technique to access the aneurysm by making a small incision on the outer area of the eye.
It avoided the need for a large skull opening and can significantly reduce trauma, pain and recovery times for patients.
The operation was performed by Asim Sheikh, consultant neurosurgeon; Kenan Deniz, consultant neurosurgeon; and Jiten Parmar, consultant maxillofacial surgeon, supported by a highly skilled multidisciplinary team, including anaesthetists, theatre staff, and specialist nurses.
In preparation for the procedure, the team, supported by Biomedical Engineer Lisa Ferrie and Reconstructive Scientist Magdalena Paluszkiewicz, created a bespoke 3D-printed model of the patient’s eye socket, surrounding skull base anatomy, and the aneurysm.
This allowed surgeons to carefully plan and rehearse the operation multiple times before the operation, ensuring the safest and most precise approach.
This innovative technique highlights how Leeds neurosurgery and maxillofacial surgery is harnessing advanced imaging, digital planning and cutting-edge surgical methods to improve outcomes for patients across West Yorkshire and beyond.
The team has used similar techniques to remove a brain tumour through the eye socket, and this latest innovative approach paves the way for this to be used for more patients across the country.
Asim Sheikh, consultant neurosurgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘This procedure represents a significant step forward in minimally invasive brain surgery in the UK. By accessing the aneurysm through the eye socket, we can avoid a large craniotomy, minimise disruption to surrounding tissue and help patients recover more quickly at home.
‘The use of 3D printed technology to plan and practise the surgery was invaluable. It meant we could tailor the approach precisely to Andrew’s anatomy and undertake the operation with an added layer of confidence and safety. We are proud to be able to offer patients in West Yorkshire access to some of the most advanced neurosurgical and maxillofacial techniques available anywhere in the country.’
Jiten Parmar said: ‘This case highlights how working in partnership across specialities, combining decades of experience and working closely with our engineering team, can result in a better outcome for our patients. This case epitomises the combined excellent skills of maxillofacial surgeons and neurosurgeons. Most importantly, we achieved a brilliant result for the patient who went home the next day.’
