There has been an increase in the number of Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA) in Malaysia throughout the years. Although blunt neck injury is uncommon, it is associated with severe, permanent neurological deficit with risk of mortality. This case is a classical presentation of a young male involved in a MVA who sustained head and neck injuries of varying severity. After a short symptom free interval, the patient started to develop neurological signs. Presenting signs and symptoms include Horner’s syndrome, dysphasia, hemiparesis, obtundation or monoparesis. A computed tomography (CT) scan of brain must be done and if the findings showed that there is no intracranial bleeding (ICB), high suspicions with further evaluation should be done. Confirmation can be obtained by Doppler ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), CT angiography (CTA) or catheter angiography to rule out carotid artery injury.

Colorectal cancer is ranked as the most common cancer for men and the second most common cancer for women according to the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report (MNCR) 2007-2011. However, delay in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer is still common partly attributable due to late presentation and incorrect diagnosis by the general practitioners. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between presenting symptoms of colorectal cancer to the location of the tumour in order to prevent delay in diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Between 1996 until 2009, a total of 212 patient data from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia were retrospectively analyzed. The demographic and surgical data were obtained. We studied the relationship of the presenting symptoms of colorectal cancer to the location of the tumour. The age of candidate included in this study range from 16 to 93 years old with mean age was 56 and male predominance. In this study, there is a strong relationship between presenting symptoms and the location of the colorectal cancer but no significant relationship between age and sex to the anatomical location of the tumour. The study showed the presenting symptoms of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit and tenesmus were significantly associated with rectal tumor, intestinal obstruction with left sided tumors and anemia and abdominal mass with right sided tumors (p-value <0.05). However abdominal pain does not follow this role as it is mostly associated with other presenting symptoms and it has no significant relation to the anatomical location of the tumor.

Purpose: Oncological outcomes following rectal cancer surgery have improved significantly over recent decades with lower recurrences and longer overall survival. However, many of the patients experienced low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). This study identified the prevalence and risk factors associated with the development of LARS. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved patients who were diagnosed with rectal cancer and had undergone sphincter-preserving low anterior resection from January 2011 to December 2020. Upon clinic follow-up, patients were asked to complete an interviewed based questionnaire (LARS score) designed to assess bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery. Results: Out of 76 patients, 25 patients (32.9%) had major LARS, 10 patients (13.2%) had minor LARS, and 41 patients (53.9%) had no LARS. The height of tumor from anal verge showed an association with the development of major LARS (P=0.039). Those patients with less than 8 cm tumor from anal verge had an increased risk of LARS by 3 times compared to those with 8 cm and above (adjusted odds ratio, 3.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–9.13). Conclusion Results from our study show that low tumor height was a significant risk factor that has a negative impact on bowel function after surgery. The high prevalence of LARS emphasizes the need for study regarding risk factors and the importance of understanding the pathophysiology of LARS, in order for us to improve patient bowel function and quality of life after rectal cancer surgery.

Purpose: Guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) has been the standard for colorectal screening but it has low sensitivity and specificity. This study evaluated the use of fecal tumor M2-pyruvate kinase (M2-PK) for detection of colorectal cancer and to compare with the current surveillance tool; gFOBT in symptomatic adult subjects underwent colonoscopy. Methods: Stool samples were collected prospectively from symptomatic adults who had elective colonoscopy from September 2014 to January 2016 and were analyzed with the ScheBo M2-PK Quick test and laboratory detection of fecal hemoglobin. Results: The results were correlated to the colonoscopy findings and/or histopathology report. Eighty-five subjects (age of 56.8 ± 15.3 years [mean ± standard deviation]) were recruited with a total of 17 colorectal cancer (20.0%) and 10 colorectal adenoma patients (11.8%). The sensitivity of M2-PK test in colorectal cancer detection was higher than gFOBT (100% vs. 64.7%). M2-PK test had a lower specificity when compared to gFOBT (72.5% vs. 88.2%) in colorectal cancer detection. The positive and negative predictive values were 47.2% and 100% for M2-PK test and 57.9% and 90.9% for gFOBT. Conclusion Fecal M2-PK Quick test has a high sensitivity for detection of colorectal cancer when compared to gFOBT, making it the potential choice for colorectal tumor screening biomarker in the future.

Juvenile polyps (JPs) are the most common polyps in pediatric patients. We present the case of an 18-year-old male patient with a giant solitary JP resembling solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS). The presenting history was rectal bleeding and symptoms of obstructed defecation syndrome. Colonoscopy revealed a polypoidal mass at the anorectal junction, with biopsy-confirmed SRUS. The symptoms worsened, and a protruding mass from the anus caused fecal incontinence. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging showed a huge pedunculated mass occupying the low rectum with local compression of the urinary bladder. Transanal excision of the anal tumor was performed due to bleeding. A histopathological examination showed a JP with high-grade dysplasia. A histological examination to differentiate JPs and SRUS could be challenging based on a superficial forceps biopsy. Therefore, an excision biopsy is usually warranted with the understanding that adenomatous or malignant transformation is found in 5.6% to 12% of all JPs.

Purpose: Laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) has several advantages over conventional open appendicectomy (OA). However, about 5% to 10% of LA patients still need to be converted to open surgery. Identifying risk factors that contribute to conversion to OA allows for early identification of patients who may benefit from primary OA. This study aimed to determine the conversion rate of LA to OA and to identify its associated risk factors among patients with acute or perforated appendicitis. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was performed among patients with acute or perforated appendicitis who underwent LA between December 2015 and January 2017. With the use of multivariable logistic regression analyses, the predictors of conversion from laparoscopic to OA were investigated. Results: Out of 120 patients, 33 cases were converted to OA which gives a conversion rate of 27.5%. Among 33 patients who were converted to OA, 27 patients (81.8%) had perforated appendix, while in the LA group, perforated appendix cases consisted of 34.5% (P<0.001). Histopathology of the appendix was the predictor of conversion from LA to OA (adjusted odds ratio, 8.82; 95% confidence interval, 3.13–24.91; P<0.001). Conclusion The result from our study shows that the overall conversion rate for the study period was high. Patients with perforated appendicitis had a higher risk of conversion to OA. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis of perforated appendicitis may be paramount in predicting conversion to OA.

PURPOSE: Patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism are at high risk for developing postoperative hypocalcemia. However, there are limited data regarding predictors of postoperative hypocalcemia in renal failure patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism. This study aimed to determine the clinical presentations of renal hyperparathyroidism and the predictors of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy. METHODS: Data of patients with renal hyperparathyroidism who underwent total parathyroidectomy between January 2007 to December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 cohort groups according to their serum calcium levels within 24 hours of parathyroidectomy: the hypocalcemia group (calcium levels of 2 mmol/L or less), and the normocalcemia group (calcium levels more than 2 mmol/L). With the use of multivariable logistic regression analyses, the predictors of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy in patients with renal hyperparathyroidism were investigated. RESULTS: Among 68 patients, 56 patients (82.4%) were symptomatic preoperatively. Fifty patients (73.5%) presented with bone pain and 14 patients (20.6%) had muscle weakness. Early postoperative hypocalcemia occurred in 25 patients (36.8%). Preoperative alkaline phosphatase level was the predictor of early postoperative hypocalcemia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.004; 95% confidence interval, 1.001–1.006; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION Results from our study show that most of the patients with renal hyperparathyroidism were symptomatic preoperatively and the most common clinical presentations were bone pain and muscle weakness. The significant predictor of early postoperative hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy was the preoperative alkaline phosphatase levels.

Penetrating injury to the abdominal viscera is not uncommon unless when it is caused by marine life. We present a 39-year-old fisherman from a tropical country who had sustained a penetrating injury from a stab wound to the abdomen due to needlefish impalement. He sustained a small perforation of the sigmoid colon during exploratory laparotomy and primary repair was done. Although this incident is rare, there are cases involving seawater activities either for leisure, sport or diving for fishing. We highlight this rare incident and discuss the management plan.

Wandering spleen is renowned as a surgical enigma due to its diverse presentations. Due to lack of its attaching ligaments which would usually place it at the left hypochondrium region, the spleen ‘wanders’ and may be located anywhere within the abdominal cavity. This condition has been associated with many complications such as splenic torsion, pancreatitis and portal hypertension. We report a case of a wandering spleen presenting as acute appendicitis in an 18-year-old young active sportsman. The patient developed post-operative ileus and later intestinal obstruction which necessitated exploratory laparatomy onto which the final diagnosis of splenic and small bowel infarct due to splenic torsion with small bowel volvulus was made. Splenectomy, small bowel resection and primary anastomosis were performed and the patient made a full recovery.