Awake craniotomy for removal of gliomas in eloquent areas: An analysis of 21 cases

Abstract

Objective: To discuss the techniques and methods in respective operation of brain gliomas located in eloquent brain region under awake anesthesia state Methods: 21 patients admitted into Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University were chosen as subject. Diagnosed with brain gliomas, they received operation with neuronavigation, intraoperative ultrasonography for locating the lesion and intraoperative direct electric stimulation for functional mapping of the eloquent brain region after receiving awake anesthesia. All patients were followed up from post-surgical 3 months to 18 months. Results: Applied with MRI scanning during post-surgical 60–90d, resection results shows that 5 cases (23.8%) received total resection of lesions, 10 cases (47.6%) received subtotal resection while 6 cases (28.6%) received partial resection. Post-surgical performance shows 8 cases (38.1%) of transitory postoperative aphasia, 5 cases(23.8%) of transitory postoperative dyskinesia and 1 case(4.8%) of permanent dyskinesia. Recovery was achieved in the patients except for the 1 case of permanent dyskinesia. Conclusions: Comprehensive application of awake anesthesia, neuronavigation, intraoperative ultrasonography and intraoperative direct electrical stimulation facilitates recognition of clear position relationship between gliomas and eloquent brain region, and maximum safe resection of gliomas in eloquent brain region with maximal protection of brain function.

Keywords

• Gliomas in eloquent area
• Direct electrical stimulation
• Awake craniotomy
• Neuronavigation
• Intraoperative ultrasonography