Dr Yow Vascular Malaysia

02/05/2026

LABOUR DAY VIBES: IT'S BEEN A TOUGH 3 WEEKS. I HAD A HUGE LOWER LIMB REVASCULARISATION CASE WHICH TOOK LOTS OF PLANNING, LOGISTICAL MANAGEMENT, LEADING TEAMS & THEN A 14-HOUR OPERATION FOLLOWED BY A WEEK OF ICU CARE. THANKFULLY, WE SAVED BOTH THE PATIENT'S LEGS & HE IS SAFELY DISCHARGED BACK TO INDONESIA.

THAT CASE TOOK A LOT OUT OF ME. SO HOW DOES A VASCULAR SURGEON UNWIND?

By the same time-honoured formula & now supported by good research evidence:

1. Get out & move: Exercise is key to recharging & paradoxically, relaxing. All exercise which raises your heart rate & challenges your reflexes releases dopamine, a feel-good neuro-transmitter that improves your mood & mental health. Tennis does it for me.

2. Spend time with family & friends: The quality & warmth of your human relationships has been shown to be highest amongst people who live longer & better lives. It reduces the stress hormone, cortisol which provokes inflammation. Reducing inflammation is now seen as key to preventing heart disease & cancer. See the centenarians in Earth's Blue Zones.

3. Be curious & do something new regularly: Whether it's a day trip to a new place, meeting new people or testing a new coffee-shop, new experiences mean refreshing neuronal connections & staving off dementia.

One benefit of being born on the last day of April: The next day is always a public holiday wherever you are in the world.

And so it was totally gratifying to rest & rejuvenate with my family while showing solidarity with the fellow workers of the world over the May Day weekend!

To start, a nice steak restaurant with Dad, followed by tennis with my little man & then to a ridiculously pretentious coffee-shop tucked away in the green oasis of a 70s bungalow which my missus has a talent of finding...

The kind populated by hipsters that serves 22 varieties of coffee beans/blends & 4 types of tap water to go with your ridiculously-priced flat white ... and your yuzu cranberry cheese-cake...

It even had a ridiculously-pretentious name - ...

Another funny story for my memoirs ... but still a fab way of re-charging...

26/04/2026

THIS IS REEZA LIM, MY OLD LA SALLIAN TENNIS TEAM-MATE FROM SECONDARY SCHOOL DAYS & CURRENT SPARRING PARTNER.

I LED THE TENNIS TEAM IN LA SALLE KLANG & REEZA WAS OUR TOP-SEEDED PLAYER.. TOGETHER, WE WON THE SELANGOR STATE SCHOOLS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS (MAJLIS SUKAN SEKOLAH SELANGOR : MSSS) FOR 2 YEARS RUNNING.

Reeza now coaches full-time & he uses modern techniques, having studied the techniques of the pros like Alcaraz & Sinner.

As my old friend & hitting partner, I said I would help get the word out there about his tennis coaching work as he has a large family & an autistic child to support..

Whether you are a beginner or have a child interested in tennis or an intermediate player who wants to get to the next level, Reeza has worked with all abilities & ages..

And he has a warm, easy-going personality who will get you enjoying tennis even more..

Reeza can travel to anywhere in the greater KL or Klang Valley area to suit your schedule & convenience.

You can reach him on:

0143409670

or social media :

Zeal 7 Consultancy

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JAEoQjwu7/

THIS IS NOT AN AD. JUST A SHOUT OUT FOR AN OLD FRIEND & FELLOW TENNIS PLAYER.

26/04/2026

OUR INAUGURAL LE MAITRE SRI KOTA CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY SYMPOSIUM LAST SATURDAY : ATTENDED BY 30 FRONTLINE DOCTORS & INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS.

IT REALLY IS A BLAST WHEN YOU CAN HAVE TWO-WAY ENGAGEMENT WITH KEEN PROFESSIONALS TO EDUCATE ON WHY CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY IS SAFER THAN STENTS IN PREVENTION OF ISCHAEMIC STROKE FROM CAROTID STENOSIS.

Carotid stenosis is now the fastest rising cause of ischaemic strokes due to the diabetes pandemic.

Ischaemic strokes comprise 80% of all strokes.

I presented in greater detail how all international Stroke guidelines & Level One research evidence is clear that anyone with a mini-stroke, minor stroke & a stroke with recovery from lysis should have carotid surgery & NOT stents.

This is simply because stents have a higher stroke rate than surgery.

It was an honour & privilege to have such an enthusiastic audience from emergency doctors, internal medicine, Anaesthetics, GPs & even an Obstetrician attend our talk. We also had healthcare insurance professionals there to gain a better understanding of how carotid surgery prevents major strokes.

It was a pleasure to see Drs Gunavatty & Eugene Leong, my Endocrine and O&G Consultant colleagues from Sri Kota & Dr Suresh Soosay, a GP & ex-RCSI college-mate there.

Of note, , a leading healthcare educator & Allianz insurance manager whom I have been collaborating on our upcoming Decoding with Doctors podcasts.

With head models, we were able to demonstrate :

- how guidewires during stenting cause strokes
- techniques during carotid surgery that protect against strokes

I also talked about my 3 high risk but successful carotid endarterectomy(CEA) cases which showed how, in the right hands, CEA remains the gold standard in ischaemic stroke prevention.

These were :

- the 92-year old English mathematician
- the Indonesian with heart failure & half his brain circulation
- the recovered cancer patient who had multiple radiation-induced stenoses in his carotid & vertebral arteries.

All had TIAs/mini-strokes. All were at risk of imminent stroke. All had a CEA which prevented this.

19/04/2026

SUNDAY MORNING VIBES: I GET PRESENTS & TREATS FROM GRATEFUL PATIENTS ALL THE TIME...

LUNCH TREATS, POSH BISCUITS & CHOCOLATES, WINE, BUTCHER'S STEAKS & SAUSAGES, MURUKKU, PAINTINGS, AN INVITE FOR A CUP OF TEA, LOTS OF THANK YOU CARDS, EVEN A MATRYOSHKA DOLL FROM ST PETERSBURG...

BUT THE ONE THING I TREASURE MOST ARE THE SMILES ON FACES OF THE PATIENTS I' VE OPERATED ON & THEIR FAMILIES ... WHETHER IT'S VARICOSE VEINS OR A LIFE-CHANGING ANEURYSM PROCEDURE.. A LIFE OR LIMB SAVED..

So it was a real pleasure to be invited out to have lunch by the Lim family a couple of weeks ago at a local Bah K*t Teh haunt...

I had operated on Mr Lim's splenic artery aneurysm. An arterial aneurysm can happen anywhere in the body.

The most common sites are in the aorta, the largest artery in the body, typically in the abdomen or chest: abdominal aortic aneurysms(AAA) or thoracic aortic aneurysms.

They can also occur in arteries of the body organs(visceral aneurysms) like the spleen or liver. Other sites include the leg arteries (femoral or popliteal aneurysms).

If aneurysms rupture, patients die. If aneurysms block, patients lose their leg.

Mr Lim had 2 aneurysms in the main artery to his spleen. The big one, at 4 cm, was about to rupture.

8 months ago, in a major operation, I removed the aneurysms & did a bypass to re-join his splenic artery. This saved his spleen, a vital organ that fights infection & cancer.

I can still remember the tears of relief & joy on Jenny's face, Mr Lim's wife, the night I told her her husband's surgery went well.. in fact better than expected.. we had managed to save the spleen.

The delight when she presented me with a painting she had created for me while waiting for the case to conclude.

The smiles in Ah Lek Bah K*t Teh on all their faces when I saw him again 8 months later.. well & happy...

Priceless...

It IS the reason I am a Vascular Surgeon... And every day I still do it, I am grateful..

13/04/2026

VARICOSE VEINS : TREAT THEM BEFORE THEY CAUSE SKIN DAMAGE IN YOUR LEGS!

VARICOSE VEINS CAN CAUSE LEG ULCERS.

In this video, Dr Yow Kuan Heng, Consultant Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon at Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre explains why it is important to treat varicose veins at an early stage.

This is because over time, varicose veins cause :
- Leg swelling
- Dry skin
- Skin pigmentation
- Hardening of skin
- Ulceration & wounds
- Bleeding on minor trauma

In your lower legs or ankles.

The ulcer often becomes infected.

It is important that you do not have repeated washouts/dressings/long-term antibiotics without seeing a Vascular Surgeon.

Chronically infected leg ulcers often grow multi-drug resistant(MDR) bacteria. This means it will become increasingly difficult to treat ulcer infections with standard or even any antibiotics.

Hence, all international Vascular guidelines recommend early treatment of varicose veins.

There is now a minimally-invasive or keyhole method of treating varicose veins called Radio Frequency Ablation(RFA) which is recommended by evidence-based guidelines as first line treatment of varicose veins.

For more information or if you are concerned about your varicose veins, visit the website:

www.dryowvascularsurgeon.com

See a Vascular Surgeon early about your varicose veins. It will avoid pain, ulceration & much more expense at a later stage.

09/04/2026

We hope common sense prevails each time...

Experts warn the new system could undermine the security of the internet

04/04/2026

AND SO YOU SHOULD TOO...

THIS IS THE HANGING VEIL STINKHORN (PHALLUS INDUSIATUS), A MUSHROOM SPECIES THAT PRODUCES A SMELLY, MUCINOUS SECRETION WITH AN ODOUR THAT ATTRACTS INSECTS & REPUTEDLY BRINGS SOME WOMEN TO INTIMATE ECSTACY...

On a separate, no less serious note, the chemicals isolated from this mushroom have been found in research to have anti-cancer properties as well as anti-oxidant & anti-microbial properties. The latter has now been used to formulate a new class of antibiotics.

We found this beautiful and amazing species of fungi by the side of our trail, while on a recent long weekend Raya break in the amazing hills of Bentong, Pahang, an hours drive from Kuala Lumpur..

In our very own rainforests, not far from our backyard... a treasure trove of potentially precious new medicines..

So we thoroughly recommend hiking as a family to you:

It is one of the most complete forms of exercise,
clambering over uneven trails, dotted with roots & trunks, under ancient green canopies, with the smells of stinkhorns & fresh rainfall down mountainsides, the deafening roar of insects & occasional gift of birdsong...

Hiking a hillside...

Rivals any cardio in the gym..
Challenges your coordination & balance...
Lifts your spirits.

Walking a jungle trail..

You teach your child about what matters..

And rewards you with the occasional new sight, sound or smell or perhaps all 3..

02/04/2026

I HEREBY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION FOR FACEBOOK OR META TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA.

Signed 1404 2nd April 2026

29/03/2026

CALLING ALL FRONTLINE CLINICIANS WHO DEAL WITH STROKES & MINI-STROKES: UPCOMING HALF-DAY SEMINAR ON 'CAROTID SURGERY & STROKE PREVENTION'.

WHERE : HILTON DOUBLE-TREE, I-CITY, SHAH ALAM
WHEN : 18TH APRIL 2026, 2 - 6 PM.

Honoured & priveleged to be running a half-day seminar on 'Carotid Surgery in Stroke Prevention' for all frontline doctors who see suspected strokes & mini-strokes.

If you are an :

Emergency Department doctor
Stroke physician
Geriatrician with an interest in Stroke Prevention
Ophthalmologist who sees visual disturbances associated with Carotid stenosis
General Practitioner/Family doctor
Cardiologist

and you would like to :

Be able to better spot signs of a mini-stroke/impending Stroke
Learn the evidence why Carotid Endarterectomy is first line treatment for symptomatic carotid stenosis
How Carotid Endarterectomy saves patients from stroke & death
How CEA is performed
Listen to real-world cases of patients saved from strokes

Then this seminar is for you.

Enhanced by :

1. CEA hands-on demos on life-like models
2. Complex case discussions: How we achieved safe outcomes in high-risk cases using state-of-the-art techniques like brain oximetry & Tissue-Engineered Vascular grafts.

Organised by Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre & Le Maitre, it will be held in the 5-Star environs of the Hilton Double Tree in Shah Alam.

Participants will be awarded 4 Continuing Professional Development(CPD) points.

Scan the QR CODE to register. Spaces are limited to 50 participants. There is no registration fee.

SEE YOU THERE ON THE 18TH OF APRIL!

To learn more details about Carotid Surgery & Stroke Prevention, visit our new website

https://dryowvascularsurgeon.com/

22/03/2026

HARI RAYA HAPPY STORIES: IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ENCIK RAYADI & HIS WIFE AT MY SRI KOTA CLINIC LAST MONTH FOR HIS ANNUAL FOLLOWUP. HE IS MORE THAN 2 YEARS ON FROM HIS COMPLEX REVISION ARM BYPASS AND HE CONTINUES TO HAVE NORMAL USE OF HIS ARM!

HIS CASE IS ONE OF MY PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS AS A VASCULAR & ENDOVASCULAR SURGEON, WHERE WE PERFORMED A PIONEERING COMPLEX HYBRID REVISION ARM BYPASS & VASCULAR RECONSTRUCTION TO SAVE HIS ARM.

If you recall, En Rayadi came to me with multiple blocks in his arm arteries from his forearm up to his neck arteries (ulnar, brachial, axillary & subclavian arteries). He had a clotting disorder called a thrombophilia which caused clots to form.

He had already one failed thrombectomy in Indonesia.

He had gangrene in his middle finger. This meant that without urgent Vascular Surgery, he was about to lose his arm.

I performed 2 operations to unblock the arteries using endovascular or keyhole techniques(guided Over-the-Wire thrombectomies).

I then performed a vein bypass to bypass the residual blockages and reconstructed his brachial artery with Tissue-Engineered bovine pericardial patches to widen the arteries as backup or to maximise his collateral circulation.

As a result of our efforts, we saved his arm from amputation.

Our achievements were highlighted in a full page article The Star newspaper in 2024.

It was a real pleasure to see Mr Rayadi still having full function of his arm & back to work after 2 years.

Proof that achieving amazing outcomes is not just the result of excellent technical skills but good leadership, teamwork & the determination to see a patient's journey to its successful conclusion!

There's a nice Hari Raya Happy Story to go with your celebrations!

For more information on Vascular issues, visit our new website:

https://dryowvascularsurgeon.com/

21/03/2026

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI TO ALL MUSLIM FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES & PATIENTS, FAR & WIDE!!

A celebration after a productive & meaningful Ramadhan.

May you have a joyous & peaceful celebration with your family & friends!