A musician undergoing complex brain surgery in Italy played the saxophone during the entire nine-hour operation that he spent awake and fully conscious.
The 35-year-old man underwent the procedure at Paideia International Hospital in Rome on Monday for the removal of a brain tumor. He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday.
According to a hospital press release, the patient underwent “awake surgery” so that surgeons could make sure his neurological functions were not compromised. The fact that the patient was left-handed had further complicated an already complex operation.
The 10-member international team was led by Dr. Christian Brogna, who claimed that every brain and every person is unique.
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A musician undergoing complex brain surgery in Italy played the saxophone during the entire nine-hour operation that he spent awake and fully conscious.
(Paideia International Hospital)
“The awake surgery allows us to map with extreme precision during surgery the neuronal networks that are the basis of various brain functions such as playing, talking, moving, remembering, counting,” Brogna said in the statement. “The goal of awake surgery is to remove the brain tumor or a vascular malformation such as cavernomas located in specific areas of the brain, while preserving the patient’s quality of life.”
Brogna said in an interview that the patient had told surgeons that it was crucial to preserve his musical ability. The patient playing the saxophone was also helpful to the medical team, as he allowed them to see different brain functions during the operation.
The man played the theme song for the 1970 film “Love Story” and the Italian national anthem at various times during the procedure.
The 35-year-old man underwent the procedure at Paideia International Hospital in Rome on Monday for the removal of a brain tumor. He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday.
(Paideia International Hospital)
The medical team, Brogna said, examines the whole person, not just the condition, in preparation for any brain surgery. The team had met this patient six or seven times in the 10 days prior to the procedure.
“When we operate on the brain, we operate on the sense of self, so we must make sure that we do not harm the patient as a person: his personality, the way he feels emotions, the way he goes through life. The patient will tell you what is important. in his life and it’s your job to protect his wishes, ”Brogna said.
He said the details of the surgery that are disclosed to the patient prior to the operation help them stay calm during the procedure.
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The patient underwent “awake surgery” so that surgeons could make sure his neurological functions were not compromised.
(Paideia International Hospital)
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The surgeon also noted that the patient was able to return to a normal life.
“Each awake surgery not only achieves the maximum result in terms of removal of the pathology, but it is a real discovery,” Brogna said in the statement. “Each time it offers us a window into the functioning of this fascinating, but still in many ways mysterious organ, which is the brain.”
This patient who played a musical instrument during his operation was not the first to do so. A South African musician played guitar during brain surgery in 2018, a musician played his saxophone during brain surgery in Spain in 2015, and an opera singer sang during brain surgery in the Netherlands in 2014.
