Operated for brain tumor while playing the Italian anthem on sax

Brain surgery while awake for the removal of a tumor while playing the Italian anthem with his beloved saxophone. The operation was performed in Rome, at Paideia International Hospital, by the team led by Christian Brogna, an international neurosurgeon expert in complex cancer surgery and ‘awake surgey’. Brogna completely removed the brain tumor without compromising the neurological functions of the patient who ‘helped’ the doctors in this delicate operation by playing the sax, so as to activate particular areas of the brain. The 35-year-old, foreign but Roman by adoption, “is fine and will be discharged today”, underlines to Adnkronos Salute Brogna. “Each brain is unique and our task is to ensure the removal of the tumor without harming the patient – explains the surgeon – The patient was operated on under local anesthesia and remained calm throughout the surgery. He played the saxophone which is his great passion and a very complex activity. In addition, the patient is left-handed so the challenge for the neurosurgeon was even more stimulating and difficult. ‘we interacted with him. He played the Italian anthem and another piece, the theme of the film’ Love Story ‘”. The intervention, which lasted over 9 hours, made use of a multidisciplinary team made up of more than 10 professionals from all over the world including neurosurgeons, dedicated anesthesiologists, neuropsychologists, neurophysiologists and engineers, supported by cutting-edge technologies such as neuronavigation with tractography, ultrasound aspirator, intraoperative ultrasound, continuous neuromonitoring. A specific tracer was also used for cancer cells which made them more easily distinguishable from surrounding healthy tissue. “The surgery was really complex and required a long preparation and a very high technology. It was one of the first of its kind performed in Italy in a private facility. Paideia International Hospital is equipped not only with the technology I needed, but also of an operating room of 100 square meters, and we also had the opportunity to organize a tailor-made team for this intervention, calling the best international professionals “, concludes Brogna.