Anaesthetic management of 27 cases of boron neutron capture therapy for glioblastoma

Twenty-seven patients received boron neutron capture therapy during craniot omy at our research reactor from 1991 to 1999. This is a form of intra-oper ative radiation therapy, which uses neutrons fi-om a nuclear reactor. There are three additional major problems to anaesthetists: boron neutron captur e therapy must be given beside the nuclear reactor, with no hospital facili ties; neutrons cannot be shielded effectively by ordinary protectors; and n eutrons are detrimental to metal devices and especially to electrical appli ances. Boron neutron capture therapy has been adopted as an effective thera py for glioblastoma/astrocytoma, but special considerations are required fo r anaesthesia.