Figure 2: Comparison between plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol, and noradrenaline between awake craniotomy and craniotomy under general anesthesia Plasma levels of ACTH (panel 1), cortisol (panel 2), and noradrenaline (panel 3) in awake craniotomy and craniotomy under general anesthesia were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A, awake craniotomy; G, craniotomy under general anesthesia. In T5 (immediately after arrival in the intensive care unit), plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol, and noradrenaline were significantly higher in craniotomy under general anesthesia than in awake craniotomy (P< 0.05).