A patient at King's College Hospital in London was able to play the violin while surgeons operated on her brain to remove a tumor. The medical team asked 53-year-old Dagmar Turner to perform live. In this way, the doctors wanted to ensure that they did not damage parts of the brain that control delicate hand movements and coordination during the millimeter-precise surgery.
Play the violin and survive surgery
Ms Turner, a former management consultant from the Isle of Wight, was diagnosed by doctors in 2013a brain tumor. This happened after she suffered a seizure during a symphony. The dedicated violinist feared the surgery would mean she could lose the ability to play.
Her tumor was in the right frontal lobe of her brain. This is near an area that controls the fine movement of her left hand. Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, consultant neurosurgeon at King's College Hospital, developed a plan to operate and reduce the risk.
The specialist has a degree in music and is an accomplished pianist. She shared Ms. Turner's desire to save her musical abilities. Before surgery, doctors spent two hours carefully mapping her brain. This allowed them to identify areas that were active during violin playing and those responsible for controlling speech and movement.
Surgeons performed a craniotomy and opened her skull before waking her from the anesthetic. Ms. Turner played the violin while her tumor was removed and she was closely monitored by anesthesiologists and a therapist.
Professor Ashkan said they managed to remove over 90 percent of the tumor. This includes all areas suspected of aggressive activity. At the same time, the team managed to maintain full function in her left hand.
Ms Turner added: “The violin is my passion. I've been playing since I was 10 years old. The thought of losing my ability to play was heartbreaking.”
Three days after the procedure, Ms. Turner was well enough to go home to her husband and son. King's College Hospital in south London carries out around 400 operations each year to remove brain tumors and often wakes patients to carry out speech tests.
