Patients awake, taking active role during brain surgery

Language mapping enables OHSU surgeons to remove tumors while preserving cognitive function

By Erik Robinson October 10, 2019 Portland, Oregon

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Bonnie Quick meets with medical teams before her surgery at OHSU. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

Bonnie Quick meets with her neurosurgeon, Seunggu Jude Han, M.D., just before she goes back for brain surgery on October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

(Left to right) Tom Quick, and his wife Bonnie meet with her neurosurgeon, Seunggu Jude Han, M.D., just before Bonnie goes in for brain surgery on October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

(Left to right) Tom Quick, and his wife Bonnie meet with the anesthesia team before Bonnie goes in for brain surgery on October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

(Left to right) Tom Quick, and his wife Bonnie meet with anesthesiologist Matthew Healy, M.D., before Bonnie goes in for brain surgery on October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

Signage on the outside of the operating suite alerts staff that the patient is awake. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

A monitor displays patient Bonnie Quick's brain perceiving, processing and directing actions as she responds to prompts given during the procedure, October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

Electrodes used for language mapping on the brain during surgery, October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

Neurosurgeon Seunggu Jude Han, M.D. (left) talks with Bonnie Quick, who is completely awake during her craniotomy, October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

Neurosurgeon Seunggu Jude Han, M.D., (center) during the procedure, October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

A monitor shows the progress of the tumor resection during Bonnie Quick's surgery, October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

Neurosurgeon Seunggu Jude Han, M.D., (center) during the procedure, October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff

Awake craniotomy with language mapping

Neurosurgeon Seunggu Jude Han, M.D., (center) during the procedure, October 4, 2019. OHSU performs 40-50 awake craniotomies with language mapping annually. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

Ahmed Raslan, M.D. (OHSU)

Ahmed Raslan, M.D., professor of neurological surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine.

Seunggu Jude Han, M.D.

Seunggu Jude Han, M.D., 2017. (OHSU)

Barry Oken M.D., Ph.D.

Barry Oken, M.D., Ph.D., 2017. (OHSU)