Craniotomy in Semi-sitting Position: A 4-year Single Institution Experience

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Anesthesiology
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• The semi-sitting position for craniotomies presents unique surgical and anesthetic challenges.
• Assessing patient outcomes and complication rates is crucial for refining surgical techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine patient outcomes following craniotomies performed in the semi-sitting position.
• To evaluate surgical and anesthetic outcomes and identify major complications.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of hospital records for adult patients undergoing craniotomy in the sitting position (2019-2023).
• Examination of individual charts for intra- and postoperative events.
• Descriptive analysis of demographic and clinical data, with parametric comparisons using Student's t-test.

Main Results:

• Ten craniotomies were performed in the sitting position between 2019 and 2023.
• Nine patients developed pneumocephalus; one experienced increased intracranial pressure.
• One patient had a severe venous air embolism with significant pleural effusion; most patients were extubated post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• 90% of craniotomies in the sitting position were managed without major long-term sequelae.
• Despite challenges, a dedicated and experienced team can effectively manage complications.
• Optimizing patient outcomes in the sitting position requires skilled multidisciplinary care.