KOTA KINABALU: Sabah achieved a milestone in neurosurgical care with the successful performance of an awake brain aneurysm clipping surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital II (QEH II) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently.
The high-risk procedure, on Feb 6, was led by consultant neurosurgeon Dr Mohd Sofan Zenian with neuroanaesthetic management by consultant neuroanaesthesiologist from UMS Dr Yeap Boon Tat and supported by a multidisciplinary team.
Unlike conventional brain surgery, the awake technique keeps the patient conscious during critical stages, enabling surgeons to assess speech, movement and higher brain functions in real time while securing the aneurysm to reduce the risk of permanent neurological damage.
QEH II director Dr Ferro Firdaus Ibrahim and Sabah Health director Dr William Gotulis described the procedure as a landmark achievement reflecting growing local expertise and collaboration in delivering advanced neurosurgical care in Sabah.
The 57-year-old patient from Tawau recovered well after the surgery with no immediate neurological complications reported.
