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Fulltext Knowledge, belief and barriers to adult influenza and pneumococcal vaccination among primary care doctors in Sarawak

Wong, L. K. S., Muthupalaniappen, L., Tie, S. T.

Medicine & Health, 2017;12(2):275-285.
MyJurnal

Adult influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations are grossly underutilized although there is clear benefit in reducing mortality and morbidity among those at risk. The aim of the study was to assess primary care physician’s knowledge on adult influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, their beliefs and barriers to vaccination. A cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires was conducted at eight primary care centres in Kuching, Sarawak. A total of 108 primary care physicians participated in this study. Median age of participants was 29 years (IQR 4.0). The median knowledge score for influenza vaccine was 9 (IQR 3) and for pneumococcal vaccine was 8 (IQR 4). Female participants scored higher compared to their male counterparts for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines (P = 0.005 & 0.007). The highest percentage of correct responses for influenza vaccination was for side effects (75.3%) while the lowest was for contraindications (9.3%). The highest percentage of correct responses for pneumococcal vaccination was for side effects (69.1%) while the lowest was for advocated target groups (6.2%). Most participants believed that pneumococcal and influenza vaccines were safe (92.8 & 99%) and beneficial for patients (89.7 & 93.8%). Cost of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines (94.8% & 96.9%) and their availability (86.6% & 89.7%) were the main barriers to prescribing them. Primary care physicians in the public sector have moderate knowledge of both adult vaccinations. Areas of knowledge paucity and barriers need to be addressed to ensure a more comprehensive health care delivery to the aging Malaysian population.
Keywords: adult, belief, influenza vaccines, knowledge, pneumococcal vaccines
Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS) guided transbronchial cryobiopsy in the diagnosis of peripheral solitary pulmonary nodule

Kho SS, Tie ST

Med J Malaysia, 2019 08;74(4):349-351.
PMID: 31424050

Solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) always raises suspicion for early lung cancer, in which accurate and less invasive biopsy is needed. We report a case of transbronchial cryobiopsy of right upper lobe SPN under radial endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS) guidance after an inconclusive computed tomography guided transthoracic needle aspiration. A diagnosis of Stage 1B adenocarcinoma of the lung was made. Patient subsequently underwent curative right upper lobectomy after ruling out mediastinal lymph node involvement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of R-EBUS guided transbronchial cryobiopsy case reported from Malaysia.
The great masquerade: Empyema thoracis as an unusual presentation of primary lung malignancy

Nyanti LE, Kho SS, Tie ST

Med J Malaysia, 2019 02;74(1):79-81.
PMID: 30846667

Primary lung malignancy presenting as empyema is rare, with a reported incidence of 0.3%. We report a case of a 60- year-old man presenting with unilateral pleural effusion; diagnostic thoracocentesis confirmed Salmonella empyema. Post-drainage, chest radiograph showed persisting right hemithorax opacity; subsequent computed tomography revealed a right lung mass with right upper lobe bronchus obliteration. Percutaneous biopsy confirmed advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma. We discuss the mechanism of post-obstructive pneumonia in lung cancerassociated empyema and the utility of bedside ultrasound in diagnosis of lung masses. Clinicians are alerted to the possibility of lung malignancy in elderly patients presenting with empyema.
Diagnostic yield of medical thoracoscopy in exudative pleural effusions in a region with high tuberculosis burden

Kho SS, Chan SK, Yong MC, Tie ST

Med J Malaysia, 2020 05;75(3):254-259.
PMID: 32467541

INTRODUCTION: Pleural effusion is frequently encountered in respiratory medicine. However, despite thorough assessment including closed pleural biopsy, the cause of around 20% of pleural effusions remains undetermined. Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is the investigation of choice in these circumstances especially if malignancy is suspected. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic yield of MT in exudative pleural effusions in a single center from East Malaysia.
METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all adult patients who underwent MT for undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion in a 24-month duration.
RESULTS: Our cohort comprised of 209 patients with a median age of 61 years old (IQR 48.5-69.5). There were 92 (44%) patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and 117 (56%) benign effusions; which included 85 tuberculous pleural effusion (TBE) and 32 cases of non-tuberculous exudative pleural effusion. Conclusive pathological diagnosis was made in 79.4% of the cases. For diagnosis of MPE, MT had a sensitivity of 89.1% (95% CI 80.4-94.3), specificity of 100% (95% CI 96.0-100.0), and positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% (95% CI 94.4-100) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 92.1% (95% CI 85.6-95.9). For TBE, MT had a sensitivity of 90.5% (95% CI 81.8-95.6), specificity of 100% (95% CI 96.3- 100.0) PPV of 100% (95% CI 94.1-100) and NPV of 93.9% (95% CI 88.0-97.2). Overall complication rate was 3.3%.
CONCLUSIONS: MT showed excellent sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of exudative pleural effusion in this region. It reduces empirical therapy by providing histological evidence of disease when initial non-invasive investigations were inconclusive.
Drainage of multiloculated tuberculous pleural effusion by medical thoracoscopy: When and why should it be considered?

Kho SS, Chan SK, Yong MC, Tie ST

Med J Malaysia, 2018 02;73(1):49-50.
PMID: 29531204 MyJurnal

Tuberculous pleural effusion (TBE) is a common encounter in our region. Up to 50% of patients with TBE will develop residual pleural thickening (RPT) which can lead to functional impairment. However, the need of drainage remains controversial. We report a case of end-stage renal failure patient who presented with right multiloculated tuberculous pleural effusion which was drained via a medical thoracoscope. Patient reports immediate relief of breathlessness post procedure and one month follow up shown significant improvement of RPT. We also discussed the current perspective on the rationale of TBE drainage and the role of medical thoracoscope in TBE management.
Fulltext A case of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis successfully removed via endoscopic argon plasma coagulation (APC) with no evidence of recurrence

Wong JL, Tie ST, Lee J, Kannan SK, Rashid Ali MR, Ibrahim A, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2014 Aug;69(4):195-6.
PMID: 25500852 MyJurnal

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a benign disease caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), characterized by the formation of recurrent, epithelial neoplastic lesions in the airways. While benign, they can cause significant airway obstruction in some cases. Difficulties in treatment arise from the recurrent nature of the lesions despite repeated procedures. Other known procedures that result in deep tissue damage also cause unacceptable collateral damage to the underlying airway mucosa. We describe a case of recurrent papillomatosis that was successfully treated with argon plasma coagulation ( APC) when laser and electrocautery ablation had failed in the past. After the papillomatasis was treated with APC, there is no recurrence on repeat scope at 4 months and 9 months after the initial procedure. The procedure was done as a day case and there is no complication from the procedure. The property of the APC that allows it to cause only superficial thermal damage to the tissue makes it a suitable adjunct therapy to the treatment of papillomas, which are usually superficial lesions.
Colon carcinoma with endobronchial metastasis masquerading as bronchial asthma causing ball valve effect

Kho SS, Yong MC, Chan SK, Tie ST, Voon PJ

Med J Malaysia, 2018 12;73(6):403-404.
PMID: 30647213

Malignant central airway obstruction (CAO) with ball valve effect (BVE) in the lung is rare. We discuss a case of metastatic colon cancer who presented with asthma like symptoms which thoracic computed tomography and bronchoscopy revealed an intraluminal tumour obstructing the left main bronchus in a ball valve manner. Airway patency was restored urgently with immediate alleviation of symptoms. This illustrates the importance of recognizing subtle features of central airway obstruction to allow expedition of appropriate investigations and therapy.
Methylprednisolone in severe COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome - less is more?

Ngu NH, Chai CS, Chan SK, Kho SS, Yong MC, Tie ST

Med J Malaysia, 2022 Nov;77(6):650-654.
PMID: 36448380

INTRODUCTION: Corticosteroids, particularly methylprednisolone, are part of the treatment for severe COVID-19 with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we aimed to compare the mortalities of patients treated with higher versus lower doses of methylprednisolone. Secondary outcomes included oxygenation, need for mechanical ventilation, length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU), secondary infection, improvement of PaO2/FiO2 (PF) ratio, and inflammatory response as expressed by C-reactive protein (CRP).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study conducted at Sarawak General Hospital from 1st June to 30th September 2021. Patients who received intravenous methylprednisolone for severe COVID-19 in the ICU were identified and divided into two groups: higher dose (cumulative dose more than 10 mg per kg) and lower dose (cumulative dose less than 10 mg per kg).
RESULTS: Out of a total of 165 patients, 40 (24.2%) patients received higher dose methylprednisolone. There was no significant difference in socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, body mass index), COVID-19 vaccination status, laboratory parameters (lymphocyte count, CRP, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer), or usage of immunomodulator therapy between the groups. Overall mortality was 23.6%. Mortality in the higher dose group was twice as high compared to lower dose group (37.5% versus 19.2%) (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.24-11.59, p<0.05). In addition, the higher dose cohort developed more secondary infections (87.5%) and had longer stays in ICU (median 11 days, IQR 8- 15). No significant difference was found between both cohorts in terms of CRP reduction, improvement of PF ratio, or the need for mechanical ventilation post methylprednisolone.
CONCLUSION: In this study, the use of higher dose methylprednisolone in COVID-19 with ARDS was not associated with better clinical outcomes. A lower dose of methylprednisolone might be sufficient in treating severe COVID-19 with ARDS.