Colon Tumor Removed Using Hypnosis on Awake Patient in Turin

Surgeons at the Molinette Hospital in Turin have performed a colon tumor resection on a patient who remained awake throughout the procedure using clinical hypnosis. The patient had been deemed inoperable under traditional general anesthesia, making this alternative approach the only viable option for the surgical removal of the tumor.

During the operation, the patient was placed in a state of hypnosis, which allowed them to remain conscious and mentally distanced from the surgical site. Reports indicate that while the surgery took place, the patient experienced a mental journey to Puglia, a region in southern Italy, as a way to manage the experience while remaining awake.

The Role of Clinical Hypnosis in Surgery

Clinical hypnosis is being utilized in specific surgical contexts to provide psychological support and reduce the reliance on pharmacological sedation and analgesia. In the case of the Turin patient, the technique bypassed the risks associated with general anesthesia that had previously rendered the patient inoperable.

This approach is similar to other specialized applications of hypnosis in the operating room, such as Hypnosis-Assisted Awake Craniotomy (HAAC). In neurosurgery, HAAC is used for the resection of brain tumors located in eloquent areas—regions of the brain that control critical functions like speech and movement.

According to research published in Cancers (Basel) on May 5, 2024, HAAC aims to reduce the need for monitored anesthesia care (MAC), which typically relies on opioids and pharmacological hypnotics. By using hypnotic suggestions, surgeons can maintain a patient’s wakefulness and cooperation while minimizing the physiological stress of the procedure.

Applications Across Different Medical Fields

The use of hypnosis to facilitate awake surgery is not limited to the colon or the brain. Other documented applications include thoracic surgery, such as the Chamberlain mediastinotomy.

A case report published on September 26, 2025, detailed an awake Chamberlain mediastinotomy performed under hypnosis and local anesthesia. This specific approach was used to prevent cardiovascular collapse and complete airway obstruction in a patient with an anterior mediastinal mass who required a surgical biopsy.

The effectiveness of these techniques varies depending on the goal of the surgery. In the case of eloquent brain tumors, the primary advantage of remaining awake is the ability to perform real-time mapping of brain functions to ensure that critical tissue is not damaged during tumor removal.

Clinical Advantages and Safety

For patients who cannot tolerate general anesthesia, hypnosis-aided surgery provides a critical alternative. The primary benefits identified in medical literature include:

• Reduction in the volume of pharmacological sedatives and analgesics required.
• Ability to perform surgery on patients with high-risk profiles for general anesthesia.
• Provision of psychological support to the patient during invasive procedures.
• Maintenance of consciousness for functional monitoring in specific neurological surgeries.

Research published via ScienceDirect indicates that awake surgery aided by hypnosis for the treatment of brain tumors in eloquent areas is considered both safe and effective, although the use of hypnosis in full-awake procedures remains a relatively unexplored area of medical practice.

The Turin case underscores the potential for clinical hypnosis to expand the pool of treatable patients by offering a pathway to surgery for those who would otherwise be considered inoperable due to anesthetic risks.