A South African musician, Musa Manzini, faced brain surgery to remove a tumor, and a unique request accompanied the procedure: he had to play his acoustic guitar during the operation. Video footage captured him strumming the guitar while doctors performed an “awake craniotomy,” a technique enabling delicate brain surgery without causing damage. Dr. Basil Enicker, the neurosurgeon leading the operation, highlighted the challenge of distinguishing between the tumor and normal brain tissue, relying on the patient’s response for guidance.
The procedure, although not uncommon, involves drilling a hole in the skull to access the brain. It dates back to prehistoric times, and in the 1930s, neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield pioneered modern craniotomies. Manzini’s surgery posed additional challenges due to his profession as a jazz bassist, requiring coordination across multiple brain regions. The medical team, led by Dr. Rohen Harrichandparsad, aimed to preserve his left hand’s motor function critical for his music.
The intricate process involved placing Manzini under intravenous anesthesia, awakening him once the brain was exposed. Small electrodes were used for cortical mapping, stimulating different brain parts to identify functional areas. Despite feeling like a “blowtorch” inside his head, Manzini played the guitar while the tumor was excised to ensure critical tissue preservation.
The surgeons removed 90 percent of the tumor, cautiously stitching up Manzini. He remained awake throughout, experiencing a surreal sensation akin to being “between being dead and being alive.” Diagnosed in 2006, Manzini opted for the awake craniotomy when scans revealed the tumor’s return. He watched YouTube videos to prepare mentally for the surgery.
Dr. Enicker expressed that Manzini’s recovery opens a new opportunity. Known for playing his bass guitar like a lead instrument, Manzini has released four albums and lectures on bass guitar at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The medical team, unfamiliar with his music before the operation, looks forward to attending his first concert post-surgery.