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Anesthesia for awake craniotomy: case report

Abstracts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Some intracranial procedures are achievable with patients awake, however, there are challenges ranging from patient compliance to homeostasis. The aim of this study is to present a case of intracranial surgery for removal of a tumor in the left parietal lobe with the patient awake during the procedure. CASE REPORT: After patient selection and psychological preparation, the proposed excision of the left parietal lobe lesion in the waking state was clarified and accepted. Continuous infusion of propofol and remifentanil was administered to maintain a Ramsay score of 2-3. The bilateral scalp blockade was performed with ropivacaine. The Mayfield head fixation device was installed and drapes adjusted to maintain the airway and eyes accessible for mapping with electrical stimulation and tumor excision. For dura mater incision, a pad with 2% lidocaine was applied for 3 minutes. The surgery was uneventful. The patient was discharged on the seventh day of hospitalization without presenting complication. CONCLUSION: Although the maintenance of analgesia and hemodynamic stability was a challenge with the patient awake, the target-controlled infusion of propofol provided the desired level of consciousness, remifentanil titrated analgesia and sedation without drug accumulation, and the blockade with ropivacaine provided satisfactory analgesia. We conclude that the anesthetic technique was satisfactory for our patient.

Anxiety; Anesthesia; Evaluation; Preoperative care; Child


JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Alguns procedimentos intracranianos são possíveis com pacientes acordados e os desafios vão da cooperação do paciente até a homeostasia. O objetivo é apresentar um caso de cirurgia intracraniana para exérese de tumor em lobo parietal esquerdo com o paciente em estado vígil. RELATO DE CASO: Após seleção do paciente e preparo psicológico, foi esclarecida e aceita a proposta de exérese de lesão parietal esquerda em estado vígil. Administraram-se propofol e remifentanil em perfusão contínua para manter o escore de Ramsay entre 2-3. Foi feito um bloqueio bilateral do escalpo com ropivacaína. Foi instalado o fixador de Mayfield e os campos cirúrgicos foram ajustados para manter vias aéreas e olhos acessíveis para o mapeamento com eletroestimulação e exérese da lesão. Para incisão da dura-máter foi aplicada uma compressa com lidocaína 2% por três minutos. A cirurgia transcorreu sem intercorrências. O paciente recebeu alta hospitalar no sétimo dia de internação sem apresentar complicação. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de ser um desafio manter analgesia e estabilidade hemodinâmica com o paciente acordado, a infusão alvo-controlada do propofol estabeleceu o nível de consciência desejado; a do remifentanil titulou a analgesia e a sedação sem o acúmulo da droga e o bloqueio com a ropivacaína, uma analgesia satisfatória. Concluímos que a técnica anestésica foi satisfatória para nosso paciente.

Craniotomia acordado; Neurocirurgia; Propofol; Remifentanil; Ropivacaína


JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Algunos procedimientos intracraneales se pueden hacer con pacientes despiertos y los retos van desde la cooperación del paciente hasta la homeostasia. El objetivo aquí, es presentar un caso de cirugía intracraneal para la exéresis de tumor en el lobo parietal izquierdo con el paciente en estado de vigilia. RELATO DE CASO: Después de la selección del paciente y dela preparación psicológica, se aclaró y aceptó la propuesta de exéresis de lesión parietal izquierda en estado de vigilia. Se administraron propofol y remifentanilo en perfusión continua para mantener la puntuación de Ramsay entre 2-3. Se hizo un bloqueo bilateral del escalpo con ropivacaína. Se instaló el fijador de Mayfield y los campos quirúrgicos se ajustaron para mantener las vías aéreas y los ojos accesibles para el mapeo con la electroestimulación y la exéresis de la lesión. Para la incisión de la dura madre se aplicó una compresa con lidocaína al 2% durante tres minutos. La cirugía transcurrió sin intercurrencias. El paciente recibió alta hospitalaria al séptimo día del ingreso sin presentar complicaciones. CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de ser un reto mantener la analgesia y la estabilidad hemodinámica con el paciente despierto, la infusión objeto controlada del propofol estableció el nivel de consciencia deseado; la del remifentanilo tituló la analgesia y la sedación sin la acumulación de la droga y el bloqueo con la ropivacaína, una analgesia satisfactoria. Concluimos por tanto, que la técnica anestésica fue satisfactoria para nuestro paciente.

Craneotomía despierto; Neurocirugía; Propofol; Remifentanilo; Ropivacaína


CLINICAL INFORMATION

IAnesthesiology Team of Presidente Prudente, Hospital Regional de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

IIDepartment of Neurosurgery, Hospital Regional de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

IIIUniversidade do Oeste Paulista, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

IVService of Reanimation and Anesthesiology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Bron, France

VNational Center for Scientific Research, Laboratory of Physics, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Some intracranial procedures are achievable with patients awake, however, there are challenges ranging from patient compliance to homeostasis. The aim of this study is to present a case of intracranial surgery for removal of a tumor in the left parietal lobe with the patient awake during the procedure.

CASE REPORT: After patient selection and psychological preparation, the proposed excision of the left parietal lobe lesion in the waking state was clarified and accepted. Continuous infusion of propofol and remifentanil was administered to maintain a Ramsay score of 2-3. The bilateral scalp blockade was performed with ropivacaine. The Mayfield head fixation device was installed and drapes adjusted to maintain the airway and eyes accessible for mapping with electrical stimulation and tumor excision. For dura mater incision, a pad with 2% lidocaine was applied for 3 minutes. The surgery was uneventful. The patient was discharged on the seventh day of hospitalization without presenting complication.

CONCLUSION: Although the maintenance of analgesia and hemodynamic stability was a challenge with the patient awake, the target-controlled infusion of propofol provided the desired level of consciousness, remifentanil titrated analgesia and sedation without drug accumulation, and the blockade with ropivacaine provided satisfactory analgesia. We conclude that the anesthetic technique was satisfactory for our patient.

Keywords: Craniotomy awake; Neurosurgery; Propofol; Remifentanil; Ropivacaine

Introduction

Because lesions are located in functional areas of the brain, some intracranial surgical procedures are suggested in awake patients.1,2 The challenges for anesthesiologists are performing sedation-analgesia and assuring cardiorespiratory stability without interfering with electrophysiologic monitoring and cognitive tests.1,2

Some criteria should be used, such as drugs with rapid onset of action, easy titration, with minimal effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which do not cause nausea or vomiting or interfere with the neurological assessment and EEG.3,4 Moreover, careful selection of patients, high levels of motivation (both patient and staff), and psychological and emotional meticulous preparation are key elements for a successful procedure.1,4,5

The use of ropivacaine for scalp block results in lower pain scores and less need for analgesics in the first 48 hours after supratentorial craniotomy.6,7 Its combination with remifentanil and propofol for sedation is an attractive option because it promotes a synergistic analgesia, ensures acceptable sedation, and decreases the incidence of nausea and vomiting.6-9

The aim of this case report was to present the sedation technique with propofol and remifentanil combined with ropivacaine for scalp block in neurosurgery for tumor resection. This technique allowed the main surgical steps without the occurrence of major complications, such as psychomotor agitation, respiratory depression, hemodynamic changes, and excessive sleepiness, without airway manipulation and, mainly, it did not affect the patient's cognitive evaluation.6-9

Case report

Male patient, 36 years old, 95 kg, 1.95 cm, who presented to the outpatient neurosurgical department with a history of seizures since 9 years old. Two months before the surgery, he had approximately five seizures per week associated with decreased strength in his right leg, predominantly on the right foot, but with preserved sensation. A month earlier, the patient started having vertigo, with loss of balance and requiring support to walk.

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were made and showed two hyperdense lesions in the left hemisphere: a small frontal lobe mass and a larger one in the left parietal. Radiological findings were compatible with cavernomas. After the paramagnetic agent infusion, the lesion located on the left parietal transition showed a serpiginous enhancement, suggestive of vascular origin with diameters of 7-16 mm (Fig. 1).


In the pre-anesthetic evaluation, neurological examination showed difficulty in flexion and extension of the right foot without any other changes, blood pressure of 120 × 80 mm Hg, and heart rate regular at 98 bpm. The patient was regularly taking valproic acid (1 g every 12 hours), carbamazepine (400 mg every 8 hours), and clobazam (10 mg every 12 hours). Additional tests were normal.

The patient and his family were informed about the surgical and anesthetic procedures and possible complications. After accepting the anesthetic protocol, the informed consent form was signed.

On the morning of the procedure, the standard anticonvulsant medication was administered. In the operating theatre, the patient was calm, oriented, Glasgow 15. In the operating room, the patient was positioned in a manner designed to avoid injury to peripheral nerves and endure several hours in the same position.

Monitoring consisted of ECG with continuous ST segment analysis, pulse oximetry, invasive blood pressure (left radial artery), nasopharyngeal temperature, arterial blood gases when prompted, blood glucose, and urine output. Venous puncture (20G and 18G) was performed. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy was administered with (cefuroxime 1.5 g), dimenhydrinate (30 mg), ondansetron (8 mg), and dexamethasone (10 mg). During this procedure, mannitol (50 g), hyperosmolar solution of 7.2% NaCl (210 mL), and furosemide (20 mg) were administered.

Target-controlled infusion (brain) was started with propofol 1%, according to Schnider's model, between 0.6 and 1 µg•mL-1; and after 5 minutes, remifentanil was initiated according to Minto's model, between 0.2 and 0.4 ng•mL-1. After 15 minutes from the start of remifentanil, the bilateral scalp block with ropivacaine 0.2% (total dose: 30 mL). After scalp blockade, the doses of propofol and remifentanil were reduced by 50% and adjusted to maintain Ramsay score of 2-3.

The Mayfield head fixation device was installed and drapes adjusted to maintain the airway and eyes accessible for mapping with electrical stimulation and tumor excision.

For dura mater incision, a pad with 2% lidocaine was applied for 3 minutes. Our experience has shown that patients who have not benefited from an anesthesia of the dura mater complained of pain during the incision.

The mapping was done with electrical stimulation of 2 to 6 µs, and possible motor or verbal changes were observed.

Throughout the surgical procedure the patient had no pain episode. At the end of surgery, dipyrone (2 g), ketoprofen (100 mg), ranitidine (150 mg), and ketamine (10 mg) were administered as prophylaxis.

The patient remained in the PACU for 2 hours 30 minutes, in order to detect any clinical changes requiring prompt surgical reintervention, which was not necessary in this case. The procedure chronology is summarized in Fig. 2.


The patient was then taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) and discharged uneventfully after 8 hours. There was no laboratory change, and the patient was discharged on the seventh day of hospital stay, without complications and with remission of seizures.

Discussion

Although awake craniotomy is well established for epilepsy surgery, only recently it has become more popular for tumor surgery.5,10,11

Complications of awake craniotomy include seizures, cerebral edema, nausea and vomiting, decreased level of consciousness, neurological deficit, pain, and loss of patient cooperation. Therefore, this procedure requires continuous monitoring, use of agents with short half-life, and the combination or not of a regional block1,4,5 (scalp block and dura mater topical anesthesia).

Seizures may occur unexpectedly, especially during brain mapping (5-20% of cases), due to decreased levels of anticonvulsants or local anesthetic toxicity.5,10-12 Such attacks may be focal or generalized, but generally self-limited and, during the postictal phase, tracheal intubation may be needed.11,12

A major concern during the intraoperative period is to maintain a patent airway and an oriented and cooperative patient.12 The non-use of tracheal intubation allows us to eliminate the possibility of coughing or airway irritation when handling such devices (endotracheal tube, laryngeal mask airway, Guedel or nasopharyngeal tubes). Cough may lead to an increased intracranial pressure and cerebral bulging. Similarly, the reinsertion of an intubation device during a surgical procedure may be difficult, especially when endotracheal intubation is selected.

The patient may refuse to cooperate for different reasons, including poor preoperative preparation, inadequate sedation, insufficient analgesia, uncomfortable position or prolonged surgical time that, for procedure safety, requires the conversion to general anesthesia.1,4

The incidence of nausea and vomiting is variable, depending on the patient's history, type of injury, drug administration, and type of anesthesia. Surgical manipulation of the temporal lobe, amygdaloid region or meningeal vessels, and inadequate analgesia and hypovolemia may contribute to increase the incidence.10,12 However, it may be minimized by judicious choice of anesthetics with antiemetic properties combined with steroids and specific antiemetic drugs.11,12

Halogenated anesthetics and nitrous oxide should be avoided during surgery with the patient awake, as these substances cause a dose-dependent distortion of the electroencephalogram (EEG). High doses of propofol, etomidate, and opioids may also disturb the EEG and respiration.5,7,12

In our patient, the scalp block with ropivacaine provided effective anesthesia and the sedation with propofol and remifentanil a satisfactory comfort and relaxation. The combination of these two techniques allowed the excision of the tumor boundaries, without damage or deficits for the patient who had early mobilization and was discharged uneventfully.

Our experience is in agreement with literature data, which reports this procedure as feasible and safe, depending on the anesthesiologist skill in the pharmacological titration, as well as his sensitivity to maintain a close psychological contact with the patient throughout the surgical procedure, which is one of the key challenges for a successful outcome.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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  • 9. Wolff DL, Naruse R, Gold M. Non opioid anesthesia for awake craniotomy: a case report. AANA J. 2010;78:29-32.
  • 10. Sartorius CJ, Berger MS. Rapid termination of intraoperative stimulation - Evoked seizures with application of cold Ringer's lactate to the cortex. J Neurosurg. 1998;88:349-51.
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  • Anesthesia for awake craniotomy: case report

    Nelson Davi BolzaniI; Daisy de Oliveira Pollon JunqueiraI; Paulo André Pinheiro Fernandes FerrariII,III; Antonio Fernandes FerrariII,III; Felipe GaiaII,III; Caroline Moraes TapajósI; José Francisco Cursino de Moura JuniorI,III; Edmundo Pereira de Souza NetoI,III,IV,V
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      18 Dec 2013
    • Date of issue
      Dec 2013

    History

    • Received
      17 Jan 2013
    • Accepted
      26 Feb 2013
    Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia R. Professor Alfredo Gomes, 36, 22251-080 Botafogo RJ Brasil, Tel: +55 21 2537-8100, Fax: +55 21 2537-8188 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
    E-mail: bjan@sbahq.org