A brain surgery patient chatted with his doctor about movement on the stock market as surgeons were delicately slicing into his brain during a three-hour operation to remove a brain tumour.
The 46-year-old patient in Shenzhen was filmed discussing his portfolio and reciting Tang Dynasty poetry while the tricky procedure was being carried out. The operation was broadcast on Shenzhen TV.
The man, surnamed Wang, was later filmed following the successful surgery, with bandages around his head. “I was a little scared, a little bit,” he said.
Because the tumour was close to the ‘Broca’s area’ of Wang’s brain – a part of the organ linked to speech production – the doctor wanted him to stay awake and keep talking to ensure the surgical team did not damage the area, the doctor explained.
“The patient did not feel uncomfortable during the surgery, did not feel any pain… he could talk with us, trade stocks,” the doctor said.
“At the time my stocks went up,” Wang said.
Shenzhen TV reported that the surgery, on June 24, had been a success and that Wang was due to be discharged from hospital soon.
