Electroacupuncture-Assisted Craniotomy on an Awake Patient

No prior work has fully resolved the safety profile of using electrical stimulation for neurosurgical anesthesia in patients with high-risk comorbidities. Traditional anesthetic practices often pose significant challenges for elderly individuals suffering from multiple chronic health conditions. While acupuncture techniques have a long history, their specific integration into modern surgical workflows remains a subject of ongoing clinical investigation. That uncertainty drove the need for detailed case documentation regarding alternative pain management strategies. Prior research has shown that acupuncture anesthesia emerged as a clinical practice in the mid-twentieth century. Various surgical procedures have historically utilized these methods to mitigate risks associated with conventional chemical sedation. This gap motivated the current examination of electroacupuncture as a viable substitute for standard anesthetic protocols. The clinical community continues to evaluate how such interventions might improve outcomes for vulnerable populations undergoing invasive brain procedures.

The aim of this case report is to describe a craniotomy performed under electroacupuncture on an elderly patient. The researchers sought to address the challenges of providing anesthesia to individuals with multiple severe comorbidities. This study explores the application of traditional stimulation techniques in a modern neurosurgical context. The authors intended to demonstrate that awake surgery is a viable option for high-risk patients. They focused on a patient who would have faced significant danger under general anesthesia. By documenting this case, the team aimed to provide evidence for alternative pain management strategies in brain surgery. The motivation for this work stems from the need to improve safety outcomes for vulnerable surgical populations. This report highlights the clinical decision-making process when standard anesthetic protocols are deemed too hazardous for a patient.

The review approach involved documenting a single clinical case of a 65-year-old male patient. Clinicians evaluated the patient's health status, noting his history of hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea. The surgical team utilized computed tomography to visualize the left-sided subdural hemorrhage. They selected an awake surgical strategy to bypass the risks of conventional chemical anesthesia. The medical staff monitored the patient throughout the entire duration of the brain operation. They applied electrical stimulation to provide the necessary anesthetic effect for the procedure. This observational design allowed the team to assess the feasibility of the intervention in a real-world setting. The report synthesizes the patient's preoperative assessment and the subsequent surgical outcome to demonstrate the efficacy of the chosen method.

Key findings from the literature indicate that the 65-year-old patient successfully underwent a craniotomy while remaining awake. The surgical team identified a left-sided acute on chronic subdural hemorrhage during the preoperative assessment. The patient presented with right-sided body weakness, which served as the primary clinical indicator for the intervention. The medical history included uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea requiring a nasal continuous positive airway pressure device. The team determined that general anesthesia would have carried a high risk for this specific individual. By utilizing electroacupuncture, the clinicians successfully performed the brain surgery without standard chemical sedation. The findings suggest that this alternative approach effectively managed the patient's pain and stability during the procedure. This case provides evidence that awake surgery is a practical option for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities.

The authors suggest that electroacupuncture provides a viable anesthetic alternative for high-risk neurosurgical candidates. This report demonstrates that maintaining patient consciousness during a craniotomy is possible using this specific stimulation technique. The clinical team emphasizes that avoiding general anesthesia significantly reduced potential complications for this elderly patient. Synthesis and implications indicate that comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension require careful consideration when selecting anesthetic modalities. The researchers propose that further investigation is warranted to standardize these acupuncture-assisted protocols in neurosurgical settings. Their findings highlight the potential for reducing perioperative risks in patients who cannot tolerate conventional sedation. This case supports the feasibility of integrating traditional stimulation methods into contemporary surgical practice. The authors conclude that this approach offers a safer pathway for complex brain surgeries in medically fragile individuals.