Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 27, 2026
A Craniotomy Surgery Procedure for Chronic Brain Imaging
Published on: February 15, 2008
Pediatric Awake Craniotomy for Brain Lesions
Ali Akay1, Mete Rükşen, H Yurday Çetin
1Department of Neurosurgery, Kent Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Insights
Awake craniotomy successfully treated pediatric epilepsy lesions near functional areas. This neurosurgical technique minimizes motor deficits in young patients, offering a viable surgical option.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epilepsy Surgery
Background:
- Awake craniotomy is a neurosurgical approach to resect brain lesions near critical functional areas, minimizing motor deficits.
- While common in adults, its application in pediatric cases is infrequently reported.
- Pediatric epilepsy patients with lesions in functional areas often have limited surgical treatment options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the successful application of awake craniotomy in two pediatric cases with epilepsy and cerebral lesions.
- To describe the surgical techniques employed in pediatric awake craniotomy for lesion resection.
Main Methods:
- Two pediatric patients with epilepsy and cerebral lesions encroaching on functional areas were selected.
- Awake craniotomy was performed for lesion resection in both cases.
- Surgical methods and techniques were documented and compared with existing literature.
Main Results:
- Successful lesion resection was achieved in both pediatric cases using awake craniotomy.
- The procedure effectively prevented motor deficits during surgery.
- The applied methods were consistent with established awake craniotomy protocols.
Conclusions:
- Awake craniotomy is a feasible and effective neurosurgical method for treating selected pediatric epilepsy cases with cerebral lesions.
- This technique offers a valuable option for preventing neurological deficits in pediatric patients with complex brain lesions.
Abstract:
Awake craniotomy is a special method to prevent motor deficits during the resection of lesions that are located in, or close to, functional areas. Although it is more commonly performed in adult patients, reports of pediatric cases undergoing awake craniotomy are limited in the literature. In our clinic, where we frequently use awake craniotomy in adult patients, we performed this method in 2 selected pediatric cases for lesion surgery. At an early age, these 2 cases diagnosed with epilepsy presented cerebral lesions, but since the lesions enclosed functional areas, surgical resection was not regarded as a treatment option at this time. In these 2 pediatric cases, we successfully completed lesion surgery with awake craniotomy. The method and the techniques employed during surgery are presented concomitant with other reports in the literature.
