UKM-HCTM Team Wins Prestigious Asian Award For Groundbreaking Cardiac Surgery Rehabilitation Research

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- A groundbreaking achievement by a research team from the UKM Faculty of Medicine and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) has captured global attention at the 32nd Annual Congress of the Association of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia (ATCSA) 2024, held in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Led by Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Nur Ayub Md Ali, the team was awarded the prestigious 'Allied Health - Young Investigator Award' for their pioneering work in cardiac surgery rehabilitation.

The winning research, presented by Dr Nor Azura Azmi, focused on a transformative approach to heart surgery recovery.

Dr Nor Azura’s study, titled Exercise-Based Prehabilitation Versus Standard Care in Patients Awaiting Cardiac Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Trial, clinched first place among 250 research papers presented by thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons from across Asia.

“This competition, marking the first of its kind at the Asian level, also highlighted innovations in health sciences, with the focus on improving patient outcomes,” Dr Nur Ayub told Bernama.

Dr Nur Ayub shared insights into the team's groundbreaking findings, revealing that conventional heart surgery practices have typically discouraged patients from exercising prior to surgery.

“However, their research challenges this approach, showing that preoperative exercise can significantly speed up recovery.

"Pre-surgery rehabilitation can drastically reduce recovery time, helping patients regain independence more quickly.

"Exercise before surgery not only improves physical recovery but also boosts mental well-being, making a substantial difference in patients' overall health,” he said.

HCTM, in collaboration with the UKM Faculty of Medicine, is pioneering the Getfit Programme, the first of its kind in Malaysia, designed to prepare patients physically and mentally for major surgeries such as heart and lung procedures.

“The programme has been shown to enhance cardiopulmonary function and accelerate healing post-surgery, improving survival rates and quality of life,” said Dr Nur Ayub.

In a further display of excellence, Teoh Chia Xuan, a fifth-year medical student under the mentorship of Dr Nur Ayub, earned second place in the Cardiothoracic Surgeon Trainee category for her innovative work.

Teoh’s research, in collaboration with Prof. John Chan from Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL) and Prof. Dr Chin Kin Fah from the Academy of Silent Mentor (AFSM), involved a novel perfusion cadaveric simulation model for cardiac bypass surgery, aimed at enhancing the training of cardiothoracic surgeons.

“These remarkable achievements not only highlight the ongoing advancements in heart surgery but also underscore the pivotal role of research and education in transforming patient care in Malaysia and beyond,” said Dr Nur Ayub.

-- BERNAMA