Awake craniotomy during pregnancy: A systematic review of the published literature

Intracranial pathologies during pregnancy pose a significant challenge to both the mother and fetus [1‐3]. A predominance of central nervous system tumors, including gliomas, is observed in females older than 20 years of age, which coincides with the reproductive fertility and child-bearing period in life [4]. As such, some lesions such as choriocarcinomas, meningiomas, and pituitary adenomas may be specifically linked to pregnancy [2, 5].

With extensive physiological changes occurring during pregnancy, some may alter the growth of already existing intracranial lesions or unmask signs and symptoms of previously unknown ones [6]. Another life-threatening concern is vasogenic cerebral edema secondary to growing intracranial tumors which may lead to a sudden increase in intracranial pressure [7]. For these reasons, neurosurgical interventions are recommended in pregnant patients with malignant tumors regardless of gestational age [8]. Treatments of brain lesions, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical resection under general anesthesia can have potentially teratogenic and fatal consequences for the fetus, thereby complicating the obstetric management of pregnant patients [4, 9].

Neurosurgical interventions for intracranial pathologies are well-tolerated by both the mother and the fetus [10]. Most studies have investigated the neurosurgical treatment of pathologies under general anesthesia in pregnancy [11‐15]. Lesions in eloquent areas require awake craniotomy (AC) for real-time monitoring of neurological functions, including motor, language, and vision [16‐20]. Recent studies show AC is a safe procedure with fewer post-operative complications such as stress and anxiety for patients [21].

AC results in lower neurological deficits while enhancing the chance of achieving maximal macroscopic resection in different pathologies, including glioblastoma [22‐24], glioma [23, 25‐28], meningioma [29, 30], and aneurysms [31]. The extent of tumor resection is correlated significantly with the patient’s survival [32]. In addition, AC avoids medication usage for general anesthesia which may otherwise have teratogenic effects [33, 34]. Furthermore, undergoing neurosurgery is a significant physical and mental undertaking. Experiencing psychological distress, directly or indirectly, during pregnancy, can cause adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth [35]. Complications associated with brain surgery under general anesthesia complicate the health of a childbearing person and fetus [36, 37]. Therefore, maintaining maternal psychological well-being is of paramount importance.

Multiple factors, such as maternal and fetal well-being, patient’s willingness, and available expertise influence the choice between craniotomy under general anesthesia or while awake. Given the benefits of AC, it would be intuitive to assume that AC would be performed more routinely in pregnancy. However, a unified synthesis of the literature on AC for pregnant patients has yet to be performed. This is the first systematic review that fills the gap in the treatment of brain lesions in pregnant people using AC.

Significant physiological factors, including hormonal changes, increased blood volume (leading to increased intracranial pressures), and fluid retention may result in increased brain tumor growth and exacerbation of neurological symptoms in pregnant patients [36]. Gliomas and meningiomas are the most common types of adult primary brain tumors among general neurosurgical patients [49] and their growth may be accelerated during pregnancy due to the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors on tumor cells [50]. In addition, pregnancy can have adverse effects and exacerbate the neurological consequences of tumors such as seizure and brainstem herniation [4]. Tumor growth and exacerbated neurological symptoms can occur in about 30% of pregnant patients with gliomas in the later stages of the pregnancy, probably due to multiple physiological changes, including an increase in blood pressure and endocrine changes causing tumor growth acceleration and edema [12], highlighting the importance of effective measures to tackle such complications. Furthermore, a decrease in the seizure threshold during pregnancy can enhance tumor-associated seizures [12].

In this systematic review, we demonstrated that AC is a feasible and safe procedure for lesions in eloquent areas. Primary malignant brain tumor in pregnant patients can be 2.6–15 per 100,000 [51, 52]. Due to such low incidence, there are insufficient guidelines for the management of intracranial lesions during pregnancy [3, 6, 53, 54], however; the significance of brain tumor in pregnant patients should not be underestimated. Various studies have discussed the neurological deterioration of patients with benign tumors such as low-grade-gliomas during pregnancy [12] which can be due to hormonal changes and increased peritumoral edema caused by fluid retention and increased intravascular volume during pregnancy [7]. Such complications can, in turn, increase intracranial pressure and make early surgical interventions inevitable in pregnant patients. For example, Giannini and Bricci [55] reported a case of a 30 year old patient with cerebellopontine angle meningioma who underwent surgical resection at 25 weeks of pregnancy due to worsening neurological deficits despite the initial plan for postponed surgery and Cesarean section at 35 weeks. However, it should be emphasized that comparing a sizeable cerebellopontine angle meningioma which causes perifical edema with a newly diagnosed low-grade glioma with no mass effect or edema can be misleading. As it has been mentioned, waiting for the fetus to reach a mature age for delivery may probably not make remarkable changes to the outcome of the latter patient. Indeed, future AC studies are required to address these caveats.

It should be noted that the preferred management is to defer the surgical intervention to later stages of pregnancy accompanied by Cesarean section for stable patients. Previous studies suggested that pregnancy can proceed to the second trimester and neurosurgical procedures be performed at this stage if pathology is diagnosed in the first and early second trimester and the patient is stable [39]. However, emergent neurosurgical interventions are required if the pregnant patient is unstable [56]. The decision to proceed with operative intervention is also influenced by the stage of the pregnancy. Based on the algorithm presented by Abd-Elsayed et. al. [39] for stable symptomatic patients in the first and early second trimester, neurosurgery is postponed to the early second trimester to permit gestational advancement, with the potential use of adjuvant radiotherapy beyond the first trimester, while the operative intervention is recommended at this stage for unstable patients. Towards the end of the second trimester and early third trimester, the stable patient is observed carefully without intervention, however, if the neurological symptoms worsen, radiotherapy can be used to delay the surgery with a decision to proceed to Caesarean section followed by neurosurgical operation under general anaesthesia if the patient is unstable and there is a chance of herniation. Regardless of the gestational age, surgeries should never be delayed or denied to pregnant women according to the recommendations made by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in conjunction with the American Society of Anesthesiologists to avoid adverse consequences on the pregnant woman and fetus [57]. Neurosurgical interventions can dramatically affect the pregnant person’s physiology. Furthermore, the impact of anesthetic medications on the patient and fetus should be carefully considered. Multiple factors, including type, size, and location of the brain pathology, neurological symptoms, fetus age, and mother well-being should be considered before neurosurgical interventions during pregnancy. AC is associated with shorter hospitalization, fewer neurological deficits, improved psychological outcomes, and better prognosis and can be utilized in low-resource settings in combination with technological advances for general neurosurgical patients [21, 58‐60]. AC has been used for various surgical indications, including tumor [20, 61], epilepsy [62, 63], and aneurysms [31] to enhance general neurosurgical patients' outcomes [26, 64]. Treatment strategy for AC in pregnant patients can be extrapolated from the standard of care with additional consideration.

The majority of the studies reported in this systematic review have reported the proximity to the eloquent areas as an indication to choose AC over GA, which is the main indication for AC even in the non-pregnant population. Nonetheless, avoiding the potential harm of general anesthesia to both patient and fetus, such as metabolic changes caused by prolonged propofol exposure in long operations and shorter time of the operations are listed as other indications to choose AC for pregnant patients. However, some studies have reported that the usage of propofol in shorter operations is still clinically acceptable [65]. Shorter operation time, faster postoperative recovery, and fewer complications are other factors which favor AC compared to GA in general neurosurgical patients. The positive outcomes for both the patient and fetus reported in this study suggest that AC can be considered as a safe procedure in treating pathologies in the vicinity of the eloquent areas of the brain.

Various strategies should be employed to support the physical and mental well-being of the patient to deliver a healthy and viable child. Given the presence of the fetus, patient positioning during the procedure can also be important to provide comfort for the patient as well as make the procedure feasible and reduce complications. Indeed, pregnant patient positioning during AC requires adjustments, such as placing in a semi-lateral position, depending on tumor location as well as maintaining vena cava blood flow to reduce risks for the fetus [66]. Some studies have specifically indicated that a 15° left lateral tilt should be employed for pregnant patients undergoing surgery beyond 18–20 weeks of gestation to reduce aortocaval compression and supine hypotension syndrome [33]. Specifically in AC, Pawlik et al. [46] positioned patients semi-laterally to reduce the risk of aortocaval complications [67, 68].

General neurosurgical patients diagnosed with cancer, especially brain tumor, are at risk of increased anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and attempt [69‐71]. In addition to the psychological consequences associated with diagnosis, undergoing neurosurgical interventions can cause physiological and psychological pressure on patients as well [72]. Therefore, every effort should be employed to alleviate the psychological sequelae of treatment on pregnant patients. AC has been shown to result in a lower psychological sequel for non-pregnant patients, even in low-resource settings [21, 58]. However, there have been no studies specifically evaluating the psychological well-being of pregnant patients undergoing AC, and future studies are required to address this gap in our knowledge given the increased psychological pressure that pregnant patients experience by worrying about their own as well as their fetus’s health. Furthermore, ethical considerations should be addressed regarding the well-being of the patient and the maintenance of the pregnancy or preterm termination [73, 74].

The decision to use fetal monitoring intraoperatively during AC should be based on fetal viability (generally 23 weeks and above), the feasibility of performing intraoperative monitoring, the availability of an obstetrician, the ability to easily access the maternal abdomen and safely interrupt the procedure to perform an emergency cesarean and, finally, the equipment and staff to care for the neonate [4].

Propofol is commonly used alone or in combination with a short-acting opioid for sedation during AC [75]; however, its use has been contraindicated in pregnancy due to metabolic acidosis effects [76]; Kamata et al. [44] used sevoflurane, which deteriorates intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, instead of propofol. Adjuvant therapies post-operatively also require careful consideration of the consequences during the lactation period. For example, Kamata et al. [44] commenced adjuvant therapy when the lactation period was completed.

According to the European Society of Medical Oncology clinical practice guidelines on systemic therapy in pregnancy, chemotherapy should be avoided during the first trimester due to the high risk of congenital malformations in nearly 20% of patients [48]. Termination of pregnancy should be considered in pregnant patients with aggressive malignancies requiring chemotherapy in the first trimester [66]. Administration of most chemotherapeutic agents may be safe during subsequent trimesters; however, they may cause complications, including intrauterine growth impairment, low birth weight, premature birth, stillbirth, myocardial toxicity, and myelosuppression; therefore, their risk should be assessed for individual patients [66]. Specifically, vinblastine is safe during the first trimester, whereas antimetabolites cytarabine and 5-fluorouracil, alkylating agents cyclophosphamide and dacarbazine, anthracyclines doxorubicin and epirubicin, vinca alkaloids vinblastine, vincristine and vinorelbine, taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel, and platinum agents cisplatin and carboplatin are safe during second and third trimesters [66, 77]. Of note, atrial septal defect, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, and death have been reported for the pregnant patients being exposed to either vincristine or vinblastine [78]. Furthermore, six pregnant patients with brain gliomas who received either temozolomide or the combination of procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine in the first month of the pregnancy unintentionally delivered healthy babies [79]. Temozolomide is a category D pregnancy medication which is not generally recommended, but it can be used if the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the fetus. However, healthy fetus delivery despite using temozolomide in the first trimester is reported [80, 81]. There are other particular considerations; for example, a three-week gap between the last chemotherapy and delivery should be made to avoid pre-term or spontaneous delivery [66, 82].

Vaginal delivery is permitted at term in a stable pregnant patient undergoing neurosurgical interventions [83], as some studies have debated that the cesarian section does not provide significant advantages over a vaginal delivery for intracranial pressure [39]. Preparations are required in case an emergency cesarian section is required. An emergency cesarian section may be required under epidural or general anesthesia if fetal distress occurs during AC [41]. Various problems, such as intraoperative seizures, emergency intubation and conversion to general anesthesia, intracranial hypertension, hemorrhage, and lack of cooperation can arise during AC, further complicating the procedure. Furthermore, hyperventilation should be avoided, which may reduce the fetus's cardiac output due to diminished venous return. Further studies are required to assess the long-term developmental consequences of exposure to AC. While insufficient information on post-operative management was provided in the articles reviewed here, the post-operative care for pregnant patients undergoing neurosurgical interventions is similar to that of non-pregnant patients [84]. However, additional intermittent fetal monitoring may be required during the post-operative phase [66].

AC is a safe and effective method for the treatment of lesions in pregnancy, which requires an experienced multi-disciplinary team with the support of obstetrics-gynecology. Individualized plans and decisions are required for each pregnant patient considering multiple factors, including lesion pathology, gestational age, and patient preferences. Good knowledge of the variable anesthetic agents and their effects on the fetus is very important in managing those patients. Specific guidelines should be established for the management of pregnant patients via AC.