E-ISSN: 1019-5157
ISSN: 2651-5024
Research
Evaluation of Perioperative Experiences of Patients Undergoing Awake Craniotomy: A Retrospective, Observational Study
Mehmet Bolat✉ ,
Özge Özen ,
Ahmet İlkay Işıkay ,
Şahin Hanalioğlu ,
Başak Akça
Özge Özen ,
Ahmet İlkay Işıkay ,
Şahin Hanalioğlu ,
Başak Akça
Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine; Department of Neurosurgery, HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.49789-26.1
Accepted: 17/07/2026
Article in Press
Corresponding Author:
Mehmet Bolat (bolatmehmet7@gmail.com)
Abstract
Aim
Awake craniotomy is defined as an intracranial open surgical procedure in which the patient remains fully awake throughout the surgery or during a specific phase of the operation. It has become the gold standard surgical approach for the resection of low-grade glial tumors. Patient experiences are crucial for refining the awake craniotomy technique and improving patient care services. In this study, we evaluated the satisfaction and experiences of patients who underwent awake craniotomy, a relatively uncommon procedure.
Material and Methods
Following approval from the institutional ethics committee, data from 60 patients who underwent awake craniotomy between January 2019 and September 2023 were retrospectively and observationally analyzed. During this process, demographic data, perioperative experiences, overall satisfaction levels, and patient recommendations were collected through surveys and retrospective evaluations. The obtained data were analyzed using statistical methods.
Results
The study revealed that the majority of patients were satisfied with their communication with the surgical team (93.3%) and felt adequately informed about anesthesia and the surgical procedure (98.3%). However, 21.7% of patients found the written informational materials to be insufficient.
Conclusion
These findings underscore the significance of a patient-centered approach in both preoperative and postoperative periods, suggesting that comprehensive information and support systems can enhance the patient experience. Furthermore, awake craniotomy can be effectively implemented when a multidisciplinary surgical team works in coordination and ensures that patients feel secure throughout the procedure. However, areas for improvement, such as the inadequacy of written informational materials and the discomfort associated with local anesthetic injections, have been identified.
This study contributes to the literature by providing patient-centered data on awake craniotomy practices in Turkey, highlighting the need for standardization and process optimization to improve patient experiences.
Awake craniotomy is defined as an intracranial open surgical procedure in which the patient remains fully awake throughout the surgery or during a specific phase of the operation. It has become the gold standard surgical approach for the resection of low-grade glial tumors. Patient experiences are crucial for refining the awake craniotomy technique and improving patient care services. In this study, we evaluated the satisfaction and experiences of patients who underwent awake craniotomy, a relatively uncommon procedure.
Material and Methods
Following approval from the institutional ethics committee, data from 60 patients who underwent awake craniotomy between January 2019 and September 2023 were retrospectively and observationally analyzed. During this process, demographic data, perioperative experiences, overall satisfaction levels, and patient recommendations were collected through surveys and retrospective evaluations. The obtained data were analyzed using statistical methods.
Results
The study revealed that the majority of patients were satisfied with their communication with the surgical team (93.3%) and felt adequately informed about anesthesia and the surgical procedure (98.3%). However, 21.7% of patients found the written informational materials to be insufficient.
Conclusion
These findings underscore the significance of a patient-centered approach in both preoperative and postoperative periods, suggesting that comprehensive information and support systems can enhance the patient experience. Furthermore, awake craniotomy can be effectively implemented when a multidisciplinary surgical team works in coordination and ensures that patients feel secure throughout the procedure. However, areas for improvement, such as the inadequacy of written informational materials and the discomfort associated with local anesthetic injections, have been identified.
This study contributes to the literature by providing patient-centered data on awake craniotomy practices in Turkey, highlighting the need for standardization and process optimization to improve patient experiences.
Keywords
Awake craniotomy
Tumor surgery
Patient experiences
Information
Satisfaction.