KOTA KINABALU - Esteemed neurosurgeons from Hospital Queen Elizabeth 2 (HQE2) and neuroanaesthetist of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) successfully performed awake mini craniotomy on an 88-year-old man who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
HQE2 Head of Department and Consultant Neurosurgeon, Dr Mohd Sofan Zenian in a statement said, the patient had a fall two weeks ago and sustained a huge left chronic subdural haemorrhage (SDH).
“As an effect, he had persistent severe headache, blurring of vision, slurred speech and right sided body weakness.
“In view of his deteriorating neurological function, we urgently sent him to the operating theatre for a mini craniotomy to drain out the old, clotted bloods,” he said.
He added that, the aim of performing an awake mini craniotomy on the patient is to assess his neurological function intraoperatively, which improved following the drainage of about 30ml of blood clots.
“Alhamdullilah, now the patient has fully recovered”, he said.
Senior Lecturer and Neuroanaesthetist from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), UMS, Dr Yeap Boon Tat inform that the performance of an awake mini craniotomy on the patient, who has an underlying cardio-respiratory dysfunction, is timely.
“This will negate the impact of general anaesthesia and unnecessary intensive care unit (ICU) admission together with the risks of nosocomial infection.
“In addition, our patient is fit, conscious, and very cooperative.
“These are value added reasons for him to undergo the procedure in awake condition,” he said.
Meanwhile, UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor in a statement expressing his appreciation to HQE2 for the cooperation, trust and faith rendered to UMS in neurosurgery.
“We are extremely excited and grateful to the neurosurgical team from HQE2 for the wonderful collaboration with UMS to ensure advances in neurosurgery and neuroanaesthesia can benefit Sabahans.
“As to my understanding, this is the third time UMS has successfully collaborated with HQE2 team in performing awake brain surgeries in Sabah with two previous surgeries involved patients with brain tumours,” he said.
The Dean of FMHS UMS, Datuk Dr Mohd Yusof Haji Ibrahim, who also thanked HQE2 for the collaboration opportunity, agreed that such collaboration could benefit the people of Sabah.
“We hope that many more advances in neurosurgical and neurocritical care, such as the Brain suite, can be provided to Sabah tertiary hospitals, especially Hospital Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HUMS), to benefit Sabahans,” he said.
