Opioid-Free Anesthesia for Awake Neurosurgery in a Patient With Asthma and Von Willebrand Disease: A Case Report

Cureus. 2023 Oct 16;15(10):e47103. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47103. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Anesthesia for awake neurosurgery requires meticulous planning. We report the case of a 44-year-old female with glioblastoma undergoing an awake craniotomy. Due to her asthma and von Willebrand disease, an opioid-free approach was chosen. Conscious sedation was attained using propofol and dexmedetomidine. The operation was successful after nine hours with patient comfort maintained. The patient was discharged from the intensive care unit in two days without sequelae. However, the use of desmopressin caused hyponatremia and cerebral edema. The scalp block was effective for pain management. This case highlights the importance of individualized anesthetic strategies in awake neurosurgeries.

Keywords: awake craniotomy; conscious sedation; glioblastoma; opioid-free analgesia; von willebrand disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports