[Awake craniotomy for brain tumor resection - what does the anaesthesist do?]

The numbers of awake craniotomies performed worldwide are rising. The technique allows a maximum of brain tumor resection with a minimal risk of functional damage in patients, where the tumor is growing close to functional relevant brain areas. The maximal resection improves the long-term outcome of these patients. For the anaesthetist awake craniotomy can be challenging, because he misses the advantages of general anaesthesia (safe airway, suppressed reflexes), but has to deal with the added risks of brain mapping and cortical stimulation (induction of epileptic insults). After adequate patient selection and intense (psychological) preparation a careful anaesthesiologist will be able to accompany the patient throughout this procedure safe and comfortable. This article describes the anaesthesiological management at Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in detail.