Hospital Universitario Juan Ramón Jiménez performs first awake brain surgery

The Hospital Universitario Juan Ramón Jiménez in Huelva has successfully performed its first awake brain surgery. This highly specialized neurosurgical technique allows surgeons to operate on critical areas of the brain while the patient remains conscious and cooperative.

During the procedure, the patient remained awake under light sedation to perform speech tests and other tasks. This real-time feedback allows the multidisciplinary medical team—including neurosurgeons, neuroanesthetists, neuropsychologists, and neurophysiologists—to map the brain and ensure the preservation of vital functions such as language, memory, and mobility.

The specific case involved a patient with a low-grade glioma located in the language comprehension area, a position that carried a high risk of neurological impairment. By using the awake technique, the team was able to maximize precision and safety during the tumor removal.