RESUMEN
The history of neurosurgery in Malaysia traces back to 1962 and is filled with stories of vibrant and humble neurosurgeons who have dedicated their life to patients and professions. The early development of neurological and neurosurgical services begins from the establishment of the neurosurgery unit at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), followed by the foundation of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Neuroscience Institute (IKTAR). Due to the exponentially increased demand for the care of neurosurgical patients, many universities and government hospitals have opened their neurosurgical units. In 2001, the formal residency training programme (USM Masters in Neurosurgery) started and since then has produced qualified neurosurgeons that empowered and shaped the present generation. The formation of the Neurosurgical Association of Malaysia (NAM) is another turning point towards bidirectional collaboration with the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS). Many opportunities were created for educational activities and the expansion of subspecialties in neurosurgery. This article describes the impact of the past neurosurgeons and the endeavors that they had gone through; the present neurosurgeons who pioneered the current neurosurgical services in Malaysia, and the future neurosurgeons that will continue the legacy and bring neurosurgery further ahead in this country.
RESUMEN
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are uncommon, biologically aggressive soft tissue sarcomas of neural origin that poses tremendous challenges to effective therapy. MPNSTs are among the most challenging mesenchymal malignancies to treat with poor prognosis. They usually affect young and middle-aged adults, tend toward early metastasis, and often demonstrate resistance to chemotherapy. We present a case of a 23-year-old female who initially presented with the right temporal swelling for 1 month associated with constitutional symptom which progressively worsening. The right craniotomy and excision biopsy were done with histopathological examination results suggestive of MPNST. Thorax-abdominal-pelvic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging further revealed multiple metastatic lesions involving spine, retroperitoneal, pelvic, chest wall, and lungs. This case illustrates the typical presentation of MPNST with its known poorly outcome.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: External ventricular drainage (EVD) has been widely used for the purpose of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). METHOD: This prospective observational study was conducted in HKL from December 2006 to December 2008 among patients who were subjected for EVD, following strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: The frequency of EVD-related infection was as high as 32.2% (95% CI 23.3% to 42.57%) among 87 patients studied. This study clearly demonstrates that tunnelling the catheter for more than 5 cm under the scalp, from the burr hole to the exit site of the skin, carried a significantly lower risk of infection compared with tunnelling the catheter for 5 cm or less (OR = 0.184, 95% CI 0.083 to 0.406, P < 0.001). The majority of cases (19 out of 28) with EVD-related infection occurred among patients catheterised for more than 10 days (OR = 0.334, 95% CI 0.171 to 0.652, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The technique of subgaleal tunnelling of more than 5cm and the duration of the ventricular catheterisation of 10 days and less should be implemented as standardised protocol at health institutions to reduce the risk of EVD-related infections.