KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has reached a significant medical milestone following the successful performance of an "awake" brain aneurysm clipping surgery, the first of its kind in Borneo.
The historic procedure was carried out on Feb 6 through a collaboration between Hospital Queen Elizabeth II (HQE II) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
The patient, a 57-year-old from Tawau, recovered well with no immediate neurological complications reported.
The highly specialised surgery was led by consultant neurosurgeon Dr Mohd Sofan Zenian, while neuroanaesthetic management was handled by Dr Yeap Boon Tat from UMS.
Unlike conventional surgery, this method keeps the patient fully conscious during critical stages, allowing surgeons to assess speech and movement in real time.
Dr Sofan explained that the awake approach provides instant feedback during the placement of the surgical clip.
“If neurological changes occur, we can immediately modify our surgical strategy. This represents the highest level of precision and patient-centred care,” he said.
Dr Yeap noted that the success of such surgery relies on meticulous anaesthetic planning to maintain patient comfort while preserving brain function.
He added that the milestone reduces the need for Sabahans to seek expensive treatment outside the state.
HQE II director Dr Ferro Firdaus Ibrahim described the achievement as a proud moment for the state’s healthcare fraternity, reinforcing the hospital's status as a centre of excellence.
Sabah Health Department director Dr William Gotulis added that the success highlights the impact of strong institutional collaboration in delivering world-class care to the public.
