Quantitative Evaluation of Efficacy of Intraoperative Examination Monitor for Awake Surgery

When brain tumors are located near the language area, a test to assess language function is required. During the test, it is practical to display combined information obtained from all the equipment so that the surgeon can confirm the patient's response to the tasks. We developed the intraoperative examination monitor for awake surgery (IEMAS) mainly to combine all information so that the language function test could be performed efficiently. The IEMAS has proved to be useful in clinical settings; however, no quantitative evaluation has been performed. This study aimed to demonstrate the clinical usefulness of the IEMAS through comparison of cases with and without IEMAS use in language function test simulation.

The language function test simulator was created to eliminate any uncertain factors, such as symptoms, which vary among patients. Neurosurgeons participated in the test, and the usefulness of the IEMAS was investigated. We analyzed test duration and number of information exchanges between surgeon and examiner.

Total test duration with IEMAS use was significantly shorter than without IEMAS use (116.1 ± 23.1 seconds vs. 147.8 ± 48.7 seconds; P < 0.02). The number of information exchanges between surgeon and examiner was significantly lower with IEMAS use than without IEMAS use (0.2 ± 0.6 times vs. 16.1 ± 15.6 times; P < 0.02).

We compared cases with and without IEMAS use. Total test duration decreased with IEMAS use, and number of information exchanges was reduced, thus demonstrating the usefulness of the IEMAS.