If you needed another reason to be disappointed in your musical talents,keep reading: an Italian musician put everyone to shame by playing the saxophone while undergoing brain surgery.
The musician, 35, underwent surgery last Monday to have a brain tumor removed and during the surgery he sat fully conscious and awake playing his instrument.
The surgery took place at Rome’s Paideia International Hospital, and in a press release they shared that the patient underwent “awake surgery” a practice used to ensure surgeons that functions were not compromised.
Dr. Christian Brogna led the 10-member international team that conducted the complex surgery, and he explained the concept.
"Awake surgery makes it possible to map with extreme precision during surgery the neuronal networks that underlie the various brain functions such as playing, speaking, moving, remembering, counting," Brogna said in the release. "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, preserving the patient's quality of life."
With the musician's ability to play music being extremely important to maintain, the surgeons had to be extra cautious while removing the tumor.
The patient played several songs, including the Italian national anthem and the theme song from the 1970 movie “Love Story.” Doctors said that having him play the instrument was very useful as it allowed them to see the brain and its different functions while they operated.
The surgery was a success after Brogna and his team spent hours preparing, which included meeting with the patient six or seven times within 10 days of surgery to examine the entire person, not just the pathology.
"When we operate on the brain, we are operating on the sense of self, so we need to make sure that we do not damage the patient as a person — their personality, the way they feel emotions, the way they get through life. The patient will tell you what is important in his life and it is your job to protect his wishes," Brogna said.
Since the surgery was completed the man has returned to a normal life, after being discharged last Thursday.
"Every awake surgery not only allows to obtain the maximum result in terms of removal of the pathology, but it is a real discovery," Brogna said in the release. "Each time it offers us a window into the functioning of this fascinating, but still in many ways mysterious organ, which is the brain."
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