KUBANG KERIAN, KELANTAN, February 2017 - The human brain plays a very important role in human anatomy, in optimising the quality of life by ensuring that normal functions of intelligence, senses, motor movements and behaviours are well-coordinated.

A brain that requires surgery due to mishaps, medical conditions or tumours would induce fear and worry on the patient. However, expert opinion and assistance could bring relief and hope to such cases.

Head of the Neuroscience Department at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Medical Sciences, Professor Dr. Zamzuri Idris said, whenever there is any untoward incident, ensuring that the nerves are well-cared for is of the utmost importance, more so when it requires an invasive procedure or surgery.

"There are many other complex conditions which require the surgeon's expertise and what's more important would be how the patience's fear and worry can be alleviated."

"USM has more than 20 experts in Basic Neurosciences attached to the Neuroscience Department or Centres, and also are equipped with advanced equipment such as the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI), Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Electrocorticography (ECOG) among others," he said.

Added Zamzuri, the Neuroscience Department also conducts basic and clinical research which could assist in the treatment of neuro patients in Malaysia.

"The USM Hospital has been referred to from patients around South-East Asia with the available expertise and facilities to perform brain and neuro surgeries such as 'Deep Brain Stimulation', 'Dystonia' and 'Tourette' among others.

“The USM Hospital also has the means to perform brain surgery while the patient is awake, known as 'Awake Craniotomy' by utilising equipment such as the 'Electrocorticography', 'Electroencephalography' and 'Bipolar Stimulation', as well as having the expertise to conduct 'Brain Mapping' prior to and during brain surgery," he further said.

Zamzuri who also specialises on surgery of the nerves, brain and backbone said, both he and the Director of the USM Centre for Neuroscience Services and Research (P3Neuro), Professor Dato' Dr. Jafri Malin Abdullah have been selected and listed among the 36 specialists from around the world as Board members of the USA-based Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutic (SBMT).

"The selection was based on our success in conducting brain mapping during brain surgery at USM Hospital, as the area of the brain that is affected medically could be identified, and a surgery performed upon without affecting other areas."

"Brain mapping procedures during surgery have been commonly-performed in the United States of America (USA) for the past few years, including in research done by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) agency," he said.

He further explained, the Neuro Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU) Ward at USM Hospital is also equipped with other advanced equipment to monitor the patients’ condition, such as the 'Electroencephalogram' (EEG), 'Transcranial Doppler' (TCD), 'Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitor' and for 'Hypothermia' conditions, to name a few.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text/Photo: Nik Sheila Erini Che Mat Kamel & Anawiah Abdul Aziz