A Preoperative Scoring System to Predict Function-Based Resection Limitation Due to Insufficient Participation During Awake Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Failure in achieving a function-based resection related to the insufficient patient's participation is a drawback of awake surgery. OBJECTIVE: To assess preoperative parameters predicting the risk of patient insufficient intraoperative cooperation leading to the arrest of the awake resection. METHODS: Observational, retrospective, multicentric cohort analysis enrolling 384 (experimental dataset) and 100 (external validation dataset) awake surgeries. RESULTS: In the experimental data set, an insufficient intraoperative cooperation occurred in 20/384 patients (5.2%), leading to awake surgery failure in 3/384 patients (ie, no resection, 0.8%), and precluded the achievement of the function-based resection in 17/384 patients (ie, resection limitation, 4.4%). The insufficient intraoperative cooperation significantly reduced the resection rates (55.0% vs 94.0%, P < .001) and precluded a supratotal resection (0% vs 11.3%, P = .017). Seventy years or older, uncontrolled epileptic seizures, previous oncological treatment, hyperperfusion on MRI, and mass effect on midline were independent predictors of insufficient cooperation during awake surgery (P < .05). An Awake Surgery Insufficient Cooperation score was then assessed: 96.9% of patients (n = 343/354) with a score ≤2 presented a good intraoperative cooperation, while only 70.0% of patients (n = 21/30) with a score >2 presented a good intraoperative cooperation. In the experimental data set, similar date were found: 98.9% of patients (n = 98/99) with a score ≤2 presented a good cooperation, while 0% of patients (n = 0/1) with a score >2 presented a good cooperation. CONCLUSION: Function-based resection under awake conditions can be safely performed with a low rate of insufficient patient intraoperative cooperation. The risk can be assessed preoperatively by a careful patient selection.