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Fulltext Neurosurgical Services in the Northern Zone of Sarawak in Malaysia: The Way Forward Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Low PH, Mangat MS, Liew DNS, Wong ASH

World Neurosurg, 2020 12;144:e710-e713.
PMID: 32949798 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.09.045

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has set a huge challenge to the delivery of neurosurgical services, including the transfer of patients. We aimed to share our strategy in handling neurosurgical emergencies at a remote center in Borneo island. Our objectives included discussing the logistic and geographic challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: Miri General Hospital is a remote center in Sarawak, Malaysia, serving a population with difficult access to neurosurgical services. Two neurosurgeons were stationed here on a rotational basis every fortnight during the pandemic to handle neurosurgical cases. Patients were triaged depending on their urgent needs for surgery or transfer to a neurosurgical center and managed accordingly. All patients were screened for potential risk of contracting COVID-19 prior to the surgery. Based on this, the level of personal protective equipment required for the health care workers involved was determined.
RESULTS: During the initial 6 weeks of the Movement Control Order in Malaysia, there were 50 urgent neurosurgical consultations. Twenty patients (40%) required emergency surgery or intervention. There were 9 vascular (45%), 5 trauma (25%), 4 tumor (20%), and 2 hydrocephalus cases (10%). Eighteen patients were operated at Miri General Hospital, among whom 17 (94.4%) survived. Ninety percent of anticipated transfers were avoided. None of the medical staff acquired COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS: This framework allowed timely intervention for neurosurgical emergencies (within a safe limit), minimized transfer, and enabled uninterrupted neurosurgical services at a remote center with difficult access to neurosurgical care during a pandemic.
Factors affecting diagnostic yield in stereotactic biopsy for brain lesions: a 5-year single-center series

Lau BL, Vijian K, Liew DNS, Wong ASH

Neurosurg Rev, 2021 Oct 10.
PMID: 34628562 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-021-01671-6

The objective of this study is to determine the factors that are associated with the diagnostic yield of stereotactic brain biopsy. A retrospective analysis was performed on 50 consecutive patients who underwent stereotactic brain biopsies in a single institute from 2014 to 2019. Variables including age, gender, lesion topography and characteristics, biopsy methods, and surgeon's experience were analyzed along with diagnostic rate. This study included 31 male and 19 female patients with a mean age of 48.4 (range: 1-76). Of these, 25 underwent frameless brain-suite stereotactic biopsies, 15 were frameless Portable Brain-lab® stereotactic biopsies and 10 were frame-based CRW® stereotactic biopsies. There was no statistical difference between the diagnostic yield of the three methods. The diagnostic yield in our series was 76%. Age, gender, and biopsy methods had no impact on diagnostic yield. Periventricular and pineal lesion biopsies were significantly associated with negative diagnostic yield (p = 0.01) whereas larger lesions were significantly associated with a positive yield (p = 0.01) with the mean volume of lesions in the positive yield group (13.6 cc) being higher than the negative yield group (7 cc). The diagnostic yields seen between senior and junior neurosurgeons in the biopsy procedure were 95% and 63%, respectively (p = 0.02). Anatomical location of the lesion, volume of the lesion, and experience of the surgeon have significant impacts on the diagnostic yield in stereotactic brain biopsy. There was no statistical difference between the diagnostic yield of the three methods, age, gender, and depth of lesion.
Cavernous sinus fungal infection: a rare case

Ng BHK, Kho GS, Sim SK, Liew DNS, Tang IP

Br J Neurosurg, 2017 Jun 09.
PMID: 28597698 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2017.1335857

Intracranial fungal infection of the cavernous sinus is a condition that usually affects immunocompromised individuals and is rarely seen in immunocompetent individuals. It is a potentially life threatening condition which requires prompt treatment. Here we present a case of an immunocompetent patient with a fungal infection of the cavernous sinus.
Fulltext A caroticocavernous fistula without vascular injury following endoscopic transsphenoidal excision of a tuberculum sellae meningioma-A case report

Ngui JZ, Higginbotham G, Kanesen D, Lau JH, Tang IP, Liew DNS

Clin Case Rep, 2021 May;9(5):e04117.
PMID: 34026157 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.4117

Caroticocavernous fistulae can occur following transsphenoidal surgery even without evidence of carotid artery injury. A role of vascularized flap reconstruction may be contributory.
Endoscopic Endonasal Approach in Clival Chordoma Surgery: Case Series

Ngu CYV, Tang IP, Ng BHK, Wong ASIIH, Liew DNS

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2021 Jun;73(2):226-232.
PMID: 34150596 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-021-02455-6

Chordomas are rare and slow-growing locally destructive bone tumors that can develop in the craniospinal axis. It is commonly found in the sacrococcygeal region whereas only 25-35% are found in the clival region. Headache with neurological deficits are the most common clinical presentations. Complete surgical resection either via open or endoscopic endonasal approaches are the main mode of treatment. Here, we report a series of 5 cases of clival chordomas which was managed via endoscopic endonasal approaches in our center. A retrospective analysis of patients who had undergone endoscopic endonasal resection of clival chordoma in Sarawak General Hospital from 2014 to 2018. A total of 5 cases were operated on endoscopically via a combine effort of both the otorhinolaryngology team and the neurosurgical team during the study period from year 2013 to 2018. From our patient, 2 were female and 3 were male patients. The main clinical presentation was headache, squinting of eye and nasopharyngeal fullness. All our patient had endoscopic endonasal debulking of clival tumor done, with average of hospital stay from 9 - 23 days. Pos-operatively, patients were discharged back well. Endoscopic endonasal resection of clival chordomas gives good surgical resection results with low morbidity rates and therefore can be considered as a surgical option in centers where the surgical specialties are available.
Fulltext A Rare Case of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea from Canal of Stenberg

Ngu CYV, Lee TH, Ramachandran K, Liew DNS, Tang IP

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 2023 Apr;75(Suppl 1):764-767.
PMID: 37206705 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-022-03347-z

Background: A spontaneous cerebrospinal leak from Sternberg's canal with meningoencephalocele is a very rare clinical entity. Endoscopic repair of the defect is challenging and crucial in identifying the defect. The aim of this case report is to highlight the presence and management with endoscopic surgery in repairing Sternberg canal. Case: 40-year-old woman presents with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea with no predisposing factors. CT imaging and MRI showed osteodural defect in the lateral recess of sphenoid with meningoencephalocoele lateral to the foramen rotundum. Endoscopic transethmoidal - transphenoidal - transpterygoid approach was used to repair the defect, and patient is well post-operative with least complication from the intervention surgery. Conclusion: Endoscopic approach proved to be the best and safest method in localizing the defect and closure of the leak. Angled scopes and image guided system were used to identify the precise location of the leak.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03347-z.
Does Putting Back Hyperostotic Bone Flap in Meningioma Surgery Cause Tumor Recurrence? An Observational Prospective Study

Lau BL, Che Othman MI, Fathil MFMD, Liew DNS, Lim SS, Bujang MA, et al.

World Neurosurg, 2019 Jul;127:e497-e502.
PMID: 30926555 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.03.183

BACKGROUND: Replacing the skull defect with synthetic materials for hyperostotic bone secondary to meningioma is recommended owing to the possibility of tumor invasion. In our institution, neurosurgeons have been putting back the refashioned hyperostotic bone flap after meningioma excision because of budget constraints. The aim of this study was to review the long-term meningioma recurrence rate in these patients.
METHODS: This was a nonrandomized, prospective observational study conducted from September 2011 to January 2015 on patients with intracranial convexity and parasagittal meningiomas. Preoperative computed tomography brain scans were obtained in all patients to confirm bony hyperostosis. Intraoperatively, part of the hyperostotic bone was sent for histopathologic examination. The rest of the bone flap was refashioned by drilling off the hyperostotic part. The bone flap was put back over the craniotomy site after soaking in distilled water. All patients were followed up for tumor recurrence.
RESULTS: The study included 34 patients with convexity or parasagittal meningioma World Health Organization grade I-II who underwent Simpson grade Ia and IIa excision. Median follow-up was 63.5 months (mean 64.9 ± 9.4 months). The hyperostotic bone flap showed presence of tumor in 35% of patients. There were 2 patients with parasagittal meningiomas after Simpson grade IIa resections who developed tumor recurrences.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that meningioma recurrence was unlikely when autologous cranioplasty was done with refashioned hyperostotic bone. This could be done in the same setting with meningioma excision. There was no recurrence in convexity meningiomas at mean 5-year follow-up.