code: def db_exec_literal(self, sql: str) -> int:
          
          self.ensure_db_open()
          cursor = self.db.cursor()
          debug_sql(sql)
          try:
              cursor.execute(sql)
              return cursor.rowcount
          except:  # nopep8
              log.exception("db_exec_literal: SQL was: " + sql)
              raise
docs: Executes SQL without modification. Returns rowcount.