In an unusual operating room, the harmony of medical instruments is accompanied by an unusual sound: the chords of a guitar. It may sound surreal, but that’s exactly what Christian Nolen, a musician from Florida, experienced. Suffering from a tumor in the right frontal lobe, the area regulating movements on the left side of the body and various cognitive functions, Nolen was faced with an unusual intervention.
The worrying diagnosis and the innovative proposal
The area of Nolen’s brain that regulates movements of the left parts of the body, the right frontal lobe, developed a tumor. Additionally, speaking, language, and other cognitive processes are linked to this region. The manifestation of the tumor was alarming: loss of sensitivity and motor control on his left side, warning signs that could not be ignored.
Specialists at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami discovered a glioma in his brain, a very common type of tumor. After the diagnosis, they informed him that surgery would be necessary to remove the tumor and allow it to be examined more closely.
Music to stay awake
However, their method was far from traditional. They offered Nolen to play guitar during the operation. This request, as bizarre as it may seem, had a solid scientific basis. Doctors prefer to operate on a conscious rather than unconscious patient when it involves a region of the brain related to activities such as speech or movement. Indeed, to ensure that everything goes as planned, doctors want to have the permanent opinion of their patients.
Dr. Ricardo Komotar, director of the Brain Tumor Initiative at the University of Miami, said that when a tumor affects or is close to a critical part of the brain (something that controls the ability to speak, understand language or move), it is best to perform the operation on a conscious patient, so that you can continuously monitor them and determine if normal brain functions are beginning to be disrupted.
Hundreds of procedures of this type are carried out each year at the Sylvester Center. Doctors may ask a patient to read, sing, play the violin, or do any other activity, depending on their condition. Nolen loved playing the guitar, which made it easier for doctors to observe his hand and body movements while keeping him awake.
The result of the operation
Nolen played a number of rock songs on his guitar, including hits from well-known bands like Deftones and System of a Down, while medical professionals worked to remove the tumor. For Nolen, it was a unique opportunity, despite the risks. Playing during surgery seemed less intimidating than other options.
Komotar and his colleagues were able to remove the entire tumor before the end of the procedure. Nolen left the hospital the following day, marking significant progress in his quality of life. Although he had to limit his activities post-surgery, his recovery was meteoric, quickly returning to guitar and physical training, with better control of his left hand.
However, his medical journey is not yet over. The results of Nolen’s pathology exam are not yet known, but he will likely undergo chemotherapy and other follow-up treatments. Despite the challenges, his passion for music and optimism remain intact, hoping to inspire other patients facing similar ordeals. Furthermore, in the polar winter of 1961, a Soviet surgeon removed his own appendix.
