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Uniportal video assisted thoracoscopic surgery right upper sleeve lobectomy- The first experience in Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Diong NC, Dharmaraj B, Sathiamurthy N

Med J Malaysia, 2020 07;75(4):445-446.
PMID: 32724014

Sleeve lobectomy is a lung sparing surgery and is the preferred alternative to pneumonectomy for centrally located tumours, which has less postoperative morbidity and mortality. Surgical approach for the technically demanding sleeve lobectomy evolved over the decades from conventional thoracotomy to video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to uniportal VATS (uVATS) which allows for quicker recovery and less pain postoperatively. We report our very first successful uVATS sleeve right upper lobectomy performed in the Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Fulltext Aerosol-generating procedures in thoracic surgery in the COVID-19 era in Malaysia

Sathiamurthy N, Balasubbiah N, Dharmaraj B

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, 2020 Oct;28(8):495-499.
PMID: 32787442 DOI: 10.1177/0218492320950898

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic has caused changes in the surgical treatment of non-Covid patients, especially in thoracic surgery because most procedures are aerosol generating. Hospital Kuala Lumpur, where thoracic procedures are performed, was badly affected. We describe our experience in performing aerosol generating procedures safely in thoracic surgery during the Covid-19 era.
METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent thoracic surgery from March 18, 2020 to May 17, 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients undergoing thoracic surgery were tested for Covid-19 using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method. Patients with malignancy were observed for 10 to 14 days in the ward after testing negative. The healthcare workers donned personal protective equipment for all the cases, and the number of healthcare workers in the operating room was limited to the minimum required.
RESULTS: A total of 44 procedures were performed in 26 thoracic surgeries. All of these procedures were classified as aerosol generating, and the mean duration of the surgery was 130 ± 43 minutes. None of the healthcare workers involved in the surgery were exposed or infected by Covid-19.
CONCLUSION: Covid-19 will be a threat for a long time and thoracic surgeons must continue to provide their services, despite having to deal with aerosol generating procedures, in the new normal. Covid-19 testing of all surgical candidates, using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, donning full personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, and carefully planned procedures are among the measures suggested to prevent unnecessary Covid-19 exposure in thoracic surgery.
A prospective cohort study on quality of life after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis

Dharmaraj B, Kosai NR, Gendeh H, Ramzisham AR, Das S

Clin Ter, 2016;167(3):67-71.
PMID: 27424505 DOI: 10.7417/CT.2016.1928

BACKGROUND: Hyperhidrosis is an excessive sweating disorder affecting quality of life. Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS), introduced by Kux in 1951, is currently the gold standard surgical treatment for primary hyperhidrosis. 75% of patients with primary hyperhidrosis have seen improvement in quality of life within 30 days after surgery. Compensatory hyperhidrosis and pneumothorax (up to 75%) have been reported in patients after surgery. This study evaluates the functional status, self- esteem, compensatory hyperhidrosis and quality of life among patient with primary hyperhidrosis before and after undergoing ETS.
METHOD: Fifty (n=50) patients between the ages 18 to 30, with primary hyperhidrosis were recruited. Patients answered the quality of life questionnaire and Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire prior to surgery and 30 days post surgery on follow up. Any post-operative complications were documented. Telephone interviews were held for patients who were unable to attend the clinics for follow-up.
RESULTS: Forty six patients (92%) had symptomatic relieve within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of compensatory sweating was 78% (39 patients), with 6 patients developing severe hyperhidrosis. Two patients who did not experience symptomatic relieve, developed compensatory hyperhidrosis. Pneumothorax was documented in 8 patients (16%), with 6 patients requiring chest tubes. Significant improvement in quality of life and self-esteem was seen among patients after surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: ETS has shown to significantly improve the quality of life and self-esteem of patients with primary hyperhidrosis within 30 days of surgery. However, the rate of compensatory hyperhidrosis still remains high (78%) which requires a long term evaluation.
KEYWORDS: Hyperhyrosis; Quality of life; Thoracoscopic Symphatectomy
Fulltext Growing teratoma syndrome of mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor

Diong NC, Dharmaraj B, Joseph CT, Sathiamurthy N

Ann Thorac Med, 2020 01 02;15(1):38-40.
PMID: 32002046 DOI: 10.4103/atm.ATM_296_19

Mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) is rare. NSGCT shows excellent response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. However, some tumors continue to enlarge despite normal tumor markers after chemotherapy, a rare condition called growing teratoma syndrome (GTS). Recognition of this condition is imperative for prompt surgical resection to prevent further cardiopulmonary compression and to improve survival. Multidisciplinary team meeting is important for perioperative preparation and care to improve the outcome of this high-risk surgery. Here, we report two cases of mediastinal GTS and underwent surgical resection, of which one died of pericardial decompression syndrome and the other is well.
Fulltext A curious case of Meckel's diverticulum

Arvind M, Dharmaraj B, Ibrahim MR, Nijhar JS, Azizi ZA

Med J Malaysia, 2016 Aug;71(4):203-205.
PMID: 27770121

Meckel's diverticulitis or Meckel's associated pathology frequently presents in childhood with gastrointestinal bleeding. It is rarely seen in adults. It is a congenital abnormality that commonly goes undetected. We present a case of a perforated Meckel's diverticulum due to fishbone ingestion in an elderly gentleman. The aim of this case report is to highlight the rare presentation of a perforation in a Meckel's diverticulum due to an extrinsic pathology and to outline diagnostic and management options in cases of Meckel's diverticulum.
Fulltext Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in Hospital Kuala Lumpur: a retrospective observational review of outcomes for patients diagnosed with thymomatous and non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis

Balasingam DFK, Dharmaraj B, Chai DN, Balasubbiah N, Meiyappan P, Sathiamurthy N

J Thorac Dis, 2024 Nov 30;16(11):7446-7457.
PMID: 39678845 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-24-830

BACKGROUND: The standard treatment for thymomatous myasthenia gravis (TMG) patients is thymectomy, whereas its role in non-TMG (NTMG) is still under debate. The objective of this study is to assess myasthenia gravis (MG) outcomes of thymectomy using the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UVATS) technique for both groups and evaluate the procedure's efficacy and safety.
METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from January 2019 to December 2022 at Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scoring and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America's Post Interventional Score (MGFA-PIS) measured our primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included surgery-related morbidity. All patients underwent a UVATS thymectomy, with the incision at the right anterior axillary line at the 5th intercostal space.
RESULTS: Out of 26 patients, 22 were analysed. The MG-ADL scores indicated a significant mean score reduction post-surgery [6.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.42 to 9.67; P<0.001]. NTMG patients exhibited a greater decrease in MG-ADL mean score than TMG patients {9.5 [standard deviation (SD) 4.8] vs. 6.1 (SD 5.4) P<0.001}. The MGFA-PIS showed complete stable remission (CSR) rates of 43% for TMG and 25% for NTMG patients. Surgical morbidity was observed in 13% of patients, of which were myasthenic crisis, difficult extubation due to carbon dioxide (CO2) retention and subcutaneous emphysema.
CONCLUSIONS: Thymectomy via UVATS is an effective and safe approach for improving symptoms in both TMG and NTMG patients.
Chest wall resection and reconstruction: a case series of 20 patients in Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Dharmaraj B, Diong NC, Shamugam N, Sathiamurthy N, Mohd Zainal H, Chai SC, et al.

Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 2021 Jan;37(1):82-88.
PMID: 33442211 DOI: 10.1007/s12055-020-00972-7

Chest wall resection is defined as partial or full-thickness removal of the chest wall. Significant morbidity has been recorded, with documented respiratory failure as high as 27%. Medical records of all patients who had undergone chest wall resection and reconstruction were reviewed. Patients' demographics, length of surgery, reconstruction method, size of tumor and chest wall defect, histopathological result, complications, duration of post-operative antibiotics, and hospital stay were assessed. From 1 April 2017 to 30 April 2019, a total of 20 patients underwent chest wall reconstructive surgery. The median age was 57 years, with 12 females and 8 males. Fourteen patients (70%) had malignant disease and 6 patients (30%) had benign disease. Nine patients underwent rigid reconstruction (titanium mesh for sternum and titanium plates for ribs), 6 patients had non-rigid reconstruction (with polypropylene or composite mesh), and 5 patients had primary closure. Nine patients (45%) required closure with myocutaneous flap. Complications were noted in 70% of patients. Patients who underwent primary closure had minor complications. In total, 66.7% of patients who had closure with either fasciocutaneous or myocutaneous flaps had threatened flap necrosis. Two patients developed pneumonia and 3 patients (15%) had respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy and prolonged ventilation. There was 1 mortality (5%) in this series. In conclusion, chest wall resections involving large defects require prudent clinical judgment and multidisciplinary assessments in determining the choice of chest wall reconstruction to improve outcomes.