Why is an “awake craniotomy”/”awake brain surgery” carried out?
Awake craniotomy is carried out or recommended to be carried out only in SOME neurosurgical patients. Its purpose (i.e., the purpose of the patient being awake during the critical part of the operation) is to make the operation safer (i.e., reduce the likelihood of a neurological impairment or “deficit” in that particular patient). CERTAIN or “SELECT” PATIENTS with brain tumours or brain blood vessel disorders involving highly eloquent (i.e., highly functionally important) parts of the brain may benefit from an awake craniotomy because the neurosurgeon can be assured of the neurological progress of the patient in real-time. Of course, the majority of patients with brain tumours or brain vascular abnormalities may not need awake surgery because their tumours or vascular conditions may not involve any highly eloquent parts of their brains. It’s in the select few that being awake during the critical part of the operation can make a very positive difference to the outcome, as the neurosurg
