Stephen Dubovich, 61, of McClellandtown, Fayette County, underwent surgery recently for the removal of a brain tumor. The procedure was performed while he was awake, enabling him to follow instructions issued by a neurophysiology technician.

Behind a plastic drape, Dr. Arlan Mintz, director of neurosurgical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, carefully probed the exposed surface of the right side of the patient's brain, near his temple.

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"I'm just listening to what's going on around me," Mr. Dubovich said. "They told me I'd be awake and talking. I'm awake and talking."

Hearing him say he'd be glad when it was over, Dr. Mintz got him to chuckle by responding, "If you find this boring, it's very good. It means you're not in pain and everything is going fine."

The operation is called an awake craniotomy, and Mr. Dubovich had it done so that the surgeon could carefully remove a tumor that threatened to invade the brain's motor strip, which lets him use his left side.

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Questions or comments on this presentation may be sent here. The video was taken by Andy Starnes and was produced by Melissa Tkach.