Management of anesthesia in awake craniotomy

Abstract

The awake craniotomy technique was originally introduced for the surgical treatment of epilepsy and has subsequently been used in patients undergoing surgical management of supratentorial tumors, arteriovenous malformation, deep brain stimulation, and mycotic aneurysms near critical brain regions. This surgical approach aims to maximize lesion resection while sparing important areas of the brain (motor, somatosensory, and language areas). Awake craniotomy offers great advantages with respect to patient outcome. In this type of procedure, the anesthetist's goal is to make the operation safe and effective and reduce the psychophysical distress of the patient. Many authors have described different anesthetic care protocols for awake craniotomy based on monitored or general anesthesia; however, there is still no consensus as to the best anesthetic technique. The most commonly used drugs for awake craniotomies are propofol and remifentanil, but dexmedetomidine is beginning to be used more commonly outside of Europe. Personal experience, careful planning, and attention to detail are the basis for obtaining good awake craniotomy

Results: Additional studies are necessary in order to optimize the procedure, reduce complications, and improve patient tolerance. The aim of this review is to present a thorough report of the literature, with particular attention to neuro-oncology surgery.