Guitar in the OR

ORIGINAL: UCLAHealth
May 26, 2013

UCLA Neurosurgeon Nader Pouratian, MD, and the Deep Brain Stimulation team at UCLA celebrated their 500th patient implanted with a brain pacemaker to cease tremors with a concert in the OR.

Scrub in with us today for a Deep Brain Stimulation surgery today #DBS#500thDBS#UCLAORLive… instagram.com/p/ZqFrTORIyG/
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Dr. Pouratain talks about the surgery #UCLAORLive vine.co/v/b9l0BUKwKlz
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Today's #UCLAORLive patient getting ready for today's surgery vine.co/v/b9lJz71TFVO
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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What song will he playing in the OR today? #UCLAORLive vine.co/v/b9lnzbX6iQJ
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Our patient shows off the guitar he will be playing in the OR #UCLAORLive vine.co/v/b9l3Jj2AmxY
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Surgery Prep #UCLAORLive #DBS #Tremors vine.co/v/b9llre0OOPb
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Putting on the head frame #UCLAORLive #500DBS #Tremors vine.co/v/bVBuMiMH2P6
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Getting the patient ready with the frame  

#UCLAORLive#500DBS#nomoretremorinstagram.com/p/ZqIso9xI1T/
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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The CT Scan will be used to target the implants #UCLAORLive #DBS #Tremors #Nomoretremors vine.co/v/bVBmrlFLm0E
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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They are taking a look at the CT Scan to see where the implant will be placed #UCLAORLive #DBS #Tremors vine.co/v/bVBhtll3VQE
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Taking a look at the CT Scan to see where the implants should be placed. #UCLAORLive#500thDBS#DBS… instagram.com/p/ZqL-Y6xI5C/
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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X marks the location where the electrode will be place #UCLAORLive#DBS#tremorinstagram.com/p/ZqNYu4RI63/
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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CNN Health@cnnhealth
Cool! @UCLAHealth is live tweeting an awake brain surgery this morning... and the patient is playing a guitar. Follow #UCLAORLive
3 days ago
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UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
Learn more about the #DBS at UCLA ucla.in/119C0ut#UCLAORLive
3 days ago
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Josh Levs@joshlevscnn
What?!! MT "@cnnhealth: Cool! @UCLAHealth is live tweeting an awake brain surgery. The patient is playing a guitar. Folo #UCLAORLive"
3 days ago
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UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
Deep Brain Stimulation treats symptoms. It is not a cure. #UCLAORLive
3 days ago
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Prepping the site #UCLAORLive ##DBS #Tremorsinstagram.com/p/ZqORB-RI8D/
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Surgical TimeOut Time #UCLAORLive#DBS#tremorinstagram.com/p/ZqO2IlxI83/
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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José García@jjgar_rodriguez
Wanna see this!!! #UCLAORLive.
3 days ago
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More prep! #UCLAORLive#DBS#tremorsinstagram.com/p/ZqQVCuxI_E/
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Dialing in the targets on the head frame for electrode. #UCLAORLive vine.co/v/bVBp5A3AbEr
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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Alright....here we go! #UCLAORLive vine.co/v/bVBDvgE5ULl
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
Deep Brain Stimulation surgery is usually done in 2 stages #UCLAORLive#DBS#Tremors
3 days ago
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Removing the skin and drilling through the skull for electrode placement #UCLAORLive #DBS #tremors vine.co/v/bVBI7uMgQ7J
UCLA Health @UCLAHealth
·3 days ago
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This is the stimloc. It is place on the #skull and will secure the lead in place. #UCLAORLive#dbsinstagram.com/p/ZqR5J7RIxh/

Brad Carter Plays Guitar During Brain Surgery To Treat Parkinson's

LOS ANGELES -- It was an uncomplicated brain surgery the hospital had performed hundreds of times before (499 times, to be exact). But to celebrate Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center's 500th deep brain stimulation operation Thursday, surgeons performed the world's first live-Vined brain surgery.

The operation, which lead neurologist Dr. Nader Pouratian described as "textbook" brain pacemaker implant surgery, was documented with Vine, a six-second video medium, and with Instagram photos on the hospital's Twitter account (@UCLAhealth) in real time on patient Brad Carter, an actor diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder essential tremor in 2006.
"Not everyone gets to experience a surgery, and more specifically an awake brain surgery," Pouratian said in a phone interview with The Huffington Post. "I thought it was a great opportunity to share with the world."

Deep brian stimulation is a therapy for people with Parkinson's disease, estimated to affect more than 1 million Americans, or essential tremors, which affects about 10 million Americans. It involves inserting a pacemaker that emits electronic impulses to affected areas of the brain, lessening tremor symptoms. At UCLA, the patient is conscious during the surgery and is asked to perform tests so that doctors can ensure the pacemaker is properly placed.
Carter's disease made his hands shake and his eyes twitch, affecting his ability to play the guitar. He had asked that he be allowed to strum his guitar during the operation to see if the pacemaker improved his playing ability.

Lo and behold, Vine videos from the surgery show Carter's guitar skills get stronger as physicians located the best place to leave the pacemaker. Vine videos also show Carter perform more routine tests, like extending his arms forward.