The influence of awake craniotomy on postoperative neuropsychology

Objective To assess the neuropsychological function and quality of life of the patients after awake craniotomy (AC). Methods A case ⁃ control study was conducted among 81 patients who underwent awake craniotomy, and a 1⁃to⁃1 control group (matched by age, gender, degree of education, tumor location and characteristic) undergoing general anesthesia (GA) in glioma resections was assembled. The incidence of postoperative neurological deficits, psychological disorders and recurrence were investigated during telephone follow⁃ups, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF⁃36) was adopted to evaluate the life quality of patients. Results Almost 73 pairs of patients fulfilled the survey of AC and GA group respectively. There were 21 patients and 28 patients with postoperative neurological deficits, and 12 patients and 8 patients with psychological disorders in AC and GA group respectively. Thirty patients of AC group had the recollection of being awake during the surgery. There were 9 patients in CA group having long ⁃ term ( > 6 months) neurological deficits, which was less than the number of GA group (18 patients, P = 0.038). According to the assessment in short⁃term, medium⁃term and long⁃term postoperative neurological deficits, there was no significant difference in the quality⁃of⁃life scores between the two groups (P > 0.05, for all). Conclusion Awake craniotomy can be the main method for removing the lesions located in or close to functional areas with lower incidence of long⁃term postoperative neurological deficits, and it has no significant impact on the psychological status and the quality of life postoperatively． DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2012.06.01