Doctors at a private hospital in Guntur recently removed a brain tumour from a fully conscious woman while she watched scenes from her favourite actor Pawan Kalyan's film ‘’They Call Him OG’’ and the movie played a genuinely important role in the procedure.
Koteswaramma, a resident of Prakasam district, underwent "awake brain surgery" a specialised procedure where the patient is kept conscious instead of being put under general anaesthesia. Her tumour was located close to the areas of the brain that control speech and movement, making this approach the safest option available.
Why was she kept awake?
It sounds alarming, but there's solid medical reasoning behind it. When a tumour sits near critical brain regions, keeping the patient awake allows surgeons to monitor speech, memory, and movement in real time as they operate. If something starts to go wrong, they know immediately and can adjust. It's a way of removing as much of the tumour as possible without causing permanent damage.
Why does the film come in?
Koteswaramma is a big Pawan Kalyan fan, and her medical team used that to their advantage. Playing scenes from OG kept her calm, alert, and cooperative throughout the most critical parts of the surgery. She was able to watch the film, respond to questions, and talk with the team the entire time.
"Her responses during surgery helped us monitor brain function in real time," said Dr Rajasekhar, one of the lead neurosurgeons on the case. His colleague Dr Arun Kumar added that keeping the patient engaged and relaxed is key to the success of awake craniotomy procedures.
Awake brain surgery is increasingly being used for complex tumour cases across the world and this case is a reminder that sometimes, the best thing a patient can bring into the operation theatre is something they love.
