Turkish Neurosurgery 2020 , Vol 30 , Num 6
Experience of Fully Awake Craniotomy for Supratentorial Lesions: A Single Institution Study
Erdal COSKUN1,Fatih YAKAR1,Serkan CIVLAN1,Eyup BAYKARA2,Batuhan BAKIRARAR3,Emrah EGEMEN1
1Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Denizli, Turkey
2Bahcelievler Medicana International Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
3Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.30747-20.2 AIM: To report and to discuss our experience of awake craniotomy for the treatment of supratentorial lesions.

MATERIAL and METHODS: We included patients who underwent awake craniotomy for supratentorial tumors between 2007 and 2018. A bipolar stimulation probe was used for patients with eloquent area lesions. The demographic features, presenting symptoms, comorbidities, localization, histopathology, pre- and postoperative Karnofsky performance status, mean operation length, mean length of hospital stay, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.

RESULTS: We included 250 patients (age, 53.5 ± 15.3 years; range, 15?90 years; 105 females and 145 males) mostly with metastasis (46%). The tumor resection rate was 90 ± 3.6%. Of 30 patients (12%) who experienced an increase in weakness, 26 experienced improvements within three days, and the remainder had permanent symptoms. Intraoperative and postoperative seizures occurred in three (1.2%) and seven (2.8%) patients, respectively, which were controlled by antiepileptic drugs. Dysphasia occurred intraoperatively in seven patients (2.8%) but improved in a month. The mean follow-up duration was 31.8 ± 11.9 months (range, 7?70 months). No mortality was seen during hospitalization.

CONCLUSION: Awake procedures are a good option in supratentorial lesions to avoid the complications of general anesthesia for patients in poor medical condition. To obtain maximal tumor resection and to maintain better quality of life, neurosurgeons should opt for awake craniotomy when necessary. Keywords : Awake craniotomy, Metastasis, Karnofsky performance status, Quality of life

Corresponding author : Fatih YAKAR, yakarneurosurgery@gmail.com