A 35-year-old Italian musician
played guitar and tambourine while being operated on to remove a
brain tumour in Turin Friday.
The so-called 'asleep-awake' technique was used at the
northwestern city's Molinette Hospital.
This enables surgeons to better monitor brain function during
the operation.
In this way, the risk of brain damage is reduced to a
minimum.
Doctors said the op was a complete success.
The patient was named as Alan Brunetta, a professional
musicians who plays several instruments and writes music for the
Turin band 'LaStanzadiGreta'.
The band won the prestigious Tenco Prize, named for late
musician Luigi Tenco, for the best debut work.
Brunetta had a tumour in his right temporal and insular lobe.
As well as saving his life, the op aimed to preserve his
creative abilities and those of musical improvisation.
The surgical team was led by Professor Diego Barbossa, who
coordinated with psychologists led by Giuliano Geminiani and
anaesthetists and intensive care doctors led by Roberto Balagna.
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