When Robert Alvarez needed an awake craniotomy to remove his brain tumor, our Dr. Sujit Prabhu suggested that the professional musician play the guitar during his surgery – a first here at MD Anderson. Get a look inside the operating room during this unique surgery and see Robert perform. #endcancer | UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Awake craniotomy is a brain surgery performed while the patient is awake, used primarily for removing tumors and treating epilepsy in areas responsible for critical functions like speech and movement. Key points include: 1. Purpose: Helps remove brain tumors and treat epilepsy while preserving vital functions through real-time patient feedback. 2. Procedure: Local anesthesia is used, and the patient is awakened during surgery to perform tasks that help identify critical brain areas. 3. Benefits: