The article is a literature review on awake craniotomy. History of method, indications and contraindications, necessary conditions for successful application as well as complications and their prevention and correction are considered Outcomes in patients with neuro-oncological pathology and in patients with intractable epilepsy after awake craniotomy are also analyzed. It's also shown that awake craniotomy can make removal of tumors near eloquent cortex more radical and improve neurological outcome in such patients.