JILID 5 BIL 3 SEPTEMBER 2003

JILID 5 BIL 3 SEPTEMBER 2003
Newsletter of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists and the College of Anaesthesiologists,
Academy of Medicine of Malaysia

Table of Contents

• Reaching Out and Be Reachable
• Farewell to Dato' Dr K Inbasegaran
• Refresher Course in Anaesthesiology: Physiology & Pharmacology Principles
• Future Activities
• Write In
• Financial Support for Attendance at Conference Overseas
• Report on the 5th National Heads of Anaesthetic Departments in MOH
• Calling All MSA Members
• Guidelines for Regional Meetings of MSA

Click on the link to download Berita Anestesiologi:
Part 1 (PDF Format, 5.79MB) | Part 2 (PDF Format, 3.20KB)

Reaching Out and Be Reachable
PROF Y K CHAN
President, Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists

The newly elected MSA EXCO has renewed plans to reach out to the anaesthestic community so as to get everybody linked or connected so that we can interact both socially as well as academically as a unit. A few years ago with this aim in mind, the previous EXCO, with Dato' K Inbasegaran's and Dr Augustine Yew's assistance, worked very hard at trying to get our Society database updated. We have come a long way in this mission, but we feel we have an equal long journey to get everybody connected in this modern age.

Just when we thought we have made progress with our numbers, we realise that a lot of the addresses and emails are outdated. A case in point was the recent urgent call for speakers to speak in Surabaya during the 13th Asean Congress. As there was a deadline to meet I decided to work through the database to get through the email, as many members as possible either to volunteer as speakers or to persuade others to do so. I realise many of the email addresses are outdated. We strongly urge members to use their initiative to update with the Academy at [email protected]. Prof Ramani Vijayan, the Asean Journal Editor, tells me that a fair number of her journals are not reaching its intended members and they are left to roost in pigeon-holes of various departments as members have not thought it proper to leave their forwarding addresses. If you are not contactable via email, a normal mail to the Academy (address: 19 Jalan Folly Ba rat, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) or even a phone call to our ever efficient and ever receptive Ms Kong, 03-20930100 or 03-20930200 or fax at 03-20930900, would do wonders to ensure that the Society can reach you.

Even if you do not have a personal email or a computer, do drop in at our website (http://www.msa.net.my) through your hospital's common linked computer. This site has been specially designed to reach out and inform the anaesthetic community about events that might be of interest to you. For the hardcore non-computer savvy members, the regular bulletin serves the same function of getting you linked with the anaesthetic community at large. However, distributing it to you by snail mail again requires a correct and current address. We will in future try to leave some copies with the various departments in the country, with provision for you to contact us if you think we are unable to reach you personally because of a change in address.

The MSA EXCO wants a dialogue with all of you. The dialogue seems limited to the EXCO who meets regularly once in two months. No doubt the elected EXCO comprises a fair representation of the anaesthetic community. It is difficult however for these eleven people to effectively represent the views of nearly 450 members if there is no direct communication. We have tried to open up the channels, phone, fax, bulletin, website and direct email communication but the dialogue cannot begin unless the community at large makes use of these channels to make their views heard. We are urging you to choose a method that suits your style but more important of all - do it, reach out to us just as we are trying to reach out to you. We value your ideas, your contribution (even if it is to say no I do not want to participate!) and your realisation that it really does pay to belong to a Society that cares for your welfare.

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Farewell to Dato' Dr K Inbasegaran

Anaesthesia Nite was mooted by the medical officers of the Department of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, to bide fare well to our head of department, Dato' Dr K Inbasega ran, who retired on 26 May 2003. The dinner was held at the Royal Lake Club on 30 May 2003 and the attendees comprised the Director of HKL, Dr Ramlee Rahmat, heads of departments, fellow colleagues, medical officers, medical assistants, intensive care and operating theatre nurses and anaesthesiologists from the Klang Valley. The dinner was graciously attended by 300 guests.

The function was a fitting tribute to Dato' Inbasegaran who has served the Ministry of Health for a total of 32 years. He was Director of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, HKL since 1992. During the period, he also served as the national advisor to the Ministry of Health for anaesthesia and intensive care. Under his able directorship, anaesthesia developed by leaps and bounds from being the backwater of medicine to a well respected discipline with a high standard of care.

The spice for the night was the entertainment organised by the medical officers. The programme included a hilarious skit by the medical officers, two well performed dances by the GICU nurses and a couple of songs. We never realised the abundance of talent in the department!!!

A dedication in the form of a video presentation on the life and achievements of Dato' Inbasegaran was shown. Dato' Inbasegaran was very touched by this presentation.

The formal part of the evening was the speeches by Dr Ni rumal Kumar and Dr Ng Siew Hian. Both spoke on Dato' Inbasegaran's contribution to anaesthesia and intensive care.

Dato' Inbasegaran was then called upon to say a few words. He took this opportunity to recognise and thank his task force' individually. He enlightened the audience on his life as an anaesthesiologist. He also thanked everyone present for his / her attendance.

So little was said about so much. His golden era will not be forgotten as he leaves behind so many achievements and contributions to the field of anaesthesia and intensive care.

He will be dearly missed.

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Refresher Course in Anaesthesiology: Physiology & Pharmacology Principles

To all anaesthetists both private & public,
and anaesthetic trainees in the southern zone
of Peninsular Malaysia:

Jointly organised by Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists & Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Bahru

Our Objectives

1. Refresh the academic knowledge of service anaesthesiologists

2. Strengthen the scientific basis of all medical officers running the anaesthetic services

3. Reinforce the teaching programme for the master candidates with input from the academicians

4. Prime the potential master candidates to the anaesthesiology syllabus

Faculty
Assoc Prof Zalina Ismail
Assoc Prof & Consultant Anaesthesiologist
Jabatan Anestesiologi
Pusat Pengajian Sains Pe rubatan, USM

Dr Wan Aasim Wan Adnan
Lecturer & Consultant Anaesthesiologist
Jabatan Anestesiologi
Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, USM

Dr Khoo Teik Hooi
Consultant Neuro anaesthesiologist & Honorary Lecturer (UKM)
Jabatan Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care
Hospital Pulau Pinang


The refresher course topics will be delivered as lectures as well as informal discussion sessions.

Topics included:

1. Applied respiratory physiology

2. Applied cardiovascular physiology

3. General pharmacology principles

CME credit points will be awarded and a certificate of attendance will also be issued.


Registration fee

(fee inclusive of food and lecture materials only)

To register or any enquiry, please contact:

Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care
Hospital Sultanah Aminah
Johor Bahru
Att: Cik Fadzihamun
Tel: 07-2231 666 ext: 2170

before 20 September 2003)

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Future Activities

2003

2004

Please note that the final quantum will depend on the individual applicant as recommended by the Selection Committee, and that those already receiving alternative sponsorship but still requesting MSA funds will have to produce original receipts when wishing to claim for airfare, registration or accommodation.

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Write In

Dear Members

There will be a space in the Berita Anestesiologi for any member to express their opinions, state their stands, make their queries, publicise their activities, say their hellos or blast their Exco, ....anything at all (within publishable limits of course).

Just address it to
Write In &
Berita Anestesiologi

mail to
19 Jalan Folly Barat
50480 Kuala Lumpur

or fax to
03-2093 0900

or E-mail to
[email protected]
or [email protected]

We welcome any communication in our effort to open up the MSA to the participation of all members. Identities of contributors of letters published need not be revealed according to your preferences, but all the mail to the column must be accompanied by full name and contact address / number should any clarification be required.

I will start the ball rolling with some observations made by individual members to various members of the Exco in passing, which may be of interest to some anaesthesiologists a round the country.

Just what is the role of the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) that have been issued from the various Colleges of the Academy of Medicine Malaysia? The College of Anaesthesiologists have to date produced CPGs on Preoperative Fasting, Minimum Monitoring, Perioperative Blood Transfusion (in print). Does anyone follow these CPGs and is there any medico legal implication attached to these CPGs? Should the College continue to product more guidelines? What do you think? Have you read them? Did you know they existed?

How come anaesthetic fees are all tagged to the surgical fees? Is this a disadvantage to the anaesthetist? Is there a possibility of change? Does anyone know?

Write in please. Even if you feel your say may not interest everyone, it will definitely interest someone. Looking forward to hearing from anyone out there....


K P Ng
Editor

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Financial Support for Attendance at Conference Overseas

I. Criteria

1. Must be a member of the MSA in good standing for the three years. This means that for the past 3 consecutive years, the member must have paid his/her subscription within the year it is due.
   
   

2. Must be:

1. presenting a free paper(s), or

2. attending as an invited speaker, or

3. representing the Society (see below )

3. Must be attending one of the following meetings held outside Malaysia:

1. World Congress of Anaethesiologists.

2. Asian Australasian Congress of Anaesthesiologists.

3. Asean Congress of Anaesthesiologists.

4. Congress of the Asian and Oceanic Society of Regional Anaesthesia.

5. Congress of the Western Pacific Association of Critical Care Medicine.

4. Must apply in advance to the Executive Committee for approval before going for the conferences.
   
   

5. For free papers, the study must not have been presented, in part or as a whole, at an overseas or international conference before.
   
   For the purpose of this paragraph:

1. Overseas conference refers to any meeting held outside Malaysia.

2. International conference refers to any meeting where the sponsoring body is a regional organisation. This includes all the conferences mentioned in Para 1 (C) above.

3. Part of the study refers to:

1. Preliminary data from the study

2. A previous presentation in which similar conclusions were derived using data from the study.

6. Must not have received a financial subsidy (for presentation of free papers or as an invited speaker) from the Society in the previous year. This means that members are only allowed one subsidy every two years except when officially representing the Society as per Para 1 (B) (3) above.
   
   

7. Must not have made any false declarations to the Society previously.
   
   

8. Must obtain the agreement of the co-authors that he/she be allowed to present the paper.

II. Financial Consideration

1. The amount of subsidy will depend on the region where the meeting is held. At the present point in time, the maximum amounts, are:

1. Within ASEAN RM 2000

2. Asia/Australia (except Japan) RM 3000

3. Japan/Europe/S Africa/America RM 5000

The amount of subsidy shall not be more than the cost of registration and half the airfare.

2. Priority categories will be of the following order:

1. Invited speakers who are presenting for the first time overseas, with or without outside sponsorship.

2. Oral free paper/poster discussion presenters without outside sponsorship.

3. Invited speakers without outside sponsorship

4. Invited Key speakers (Plenary lecturers), with or without outside sponsorship.

5. Oral free paper/poster discussion presenters with outside sponsorship.

6. Invited speakers with outside sponsorship.

7. Presenters of poster presentations, with or without outside sponsorship.

3. Designated Conferences
   
   At the beginning of each financial year, the Executive Committee will decide which of the conferences mentioned in Para 1(C) above will be designated as conferences in which members may apply for a subsidy. When making the decision, the Executive Committee will consider the following factors.

1. Priority will be given to WFSA sponsored conferences - World Congress, Asian Australasian Congress, Asean Congress.

2. Priority will be given to conferences within the Asean region.

3. The financial position of the Society.

4. Limiting total amount of subsidy per conference (Capping).

1. The Executive Committee reserves the right to set a limit to the amount of subsidy to be given in order to allow proper budgeting

2. In order to prevent the capped limit from being exceeded, the Executive Committee reserves the right to decrease number of successful applicants.

III. Approval of subsidy for invited speakers/presenters of free papers

1. Selection Committee
   
   Composition:

1. MSA Chairman, who shall chair the committee.

2. MSA Treasurer.

3. One to three members of the Society, one of whom shall be involves in academia full-time.

Function:

1. To review the submitted abstracts and make recommendations to the Executive Committee.

2. Selection Process

1. A copy of the abstract sent to the organizing committee of the conference, together with the letter of acceptance, must be sent to the Selection Committee.

2. A cover letter must be completed in full and returned to the Selection Committee. This cover letter will include:

1. declaration by the applicant that all the criteria have been met.

2. a declaration by the applicant of all financial support obtained from other sources for the purpose of attending the conference.

3. a declaration by the applicant that agreement of the co-authors, that the applicant be allowed to present the paper, has been received.

4. certification by the Head of Department or Director of Research in the Institution where the study was carried out.

5. a statement by the applicant agreeing to the decision of the Executive Committee with regard to the application and amount of subsidy granted.

6. official receipts.

IV. Delegates appointed by the Society

Delegates appointed by the Society will automatically enjoy the subsidy without need for further application. Such appointments must be recorded in the minutes of the Executive Committee meetings. This includes:

1. Society representatives at WFSA/CASA business meetings.

2. Speakers appointed by the Society e.g. at the Presidents' Forum.

V. Decision and Appeal

1. The Executive Committee will make the decision on whether to grant any subsidy taking into consideration the recommendation of the Selection Committee.
   
   

2. The Hon Secretary will inform unsuccessful applicants within a reasonable time interval.
   
   

3. Unsuccessful applicants can appeal to the Executive Committee. The decision of the Executive Committee when considering an appeal will be final.

VI. Review

This policy is subject to review from time to time by the Executive Committee and will depend on the prevailing financial position of the Society.


Prepared by:
Assoc Prof Lim Thiam Aun
Dr V Kathiresan
Adopted by Executive Committee on 22 August 2000

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Report on the 5th National Heads of Anaesthetic Departments in MOH
by Dr Ng Siew Hian

The 5th National Meeting of the heads of anaesthetic departments in Ministry of Health was held on 19 - 20 May at the Vistana Hotel Kuala Lu m p u r. A total of 46 specialists from 28 hospitals attended the meeting officiated by the Deputy Director General Datuk Dr Ahmad Tajuddin.

A number of issues were discussed and among them were:

1. Strategies to overcome the severe shortage of ICU beds in the state hospitals.
   Measures advocated were the strict adherence to admission and discharge guidelines, development of clear patient management plan, practice withholding and withdrawing of life-support therapy when indicated and networking of ICU beds especially in the Klang Valley. These good practices' are deemed necessary to reduce the demand for ICU beds and to allow some breathing space' while awaiting for more ICU beds to be created under the Dasar Baru projects.
   
   

2. Pre-anaesthetic clinics in all KKM hospitals.
   This will be made a national policy and a taskforce will be formed to formulate guidelines for its implementation in Ministry of Health hospitals. It is envisaged that in the near future, all patients scheduled for surgery under anaesthesia will be assessed in the anaesthetic clinic.
   
   

3. Respiratory care and haemodynamic monitoring course for ICU medical assistants.
   The course will expand the roles of the MAs in the ICU especially in the transportation of patients and the provision of basic ventilatory care.
   
   

4. Training for anaesthetic assistants.
   Structured training for anaesthetic assistants is necessary to improve their level of competence. Training will include formal lectures and the use of a log book for procedures.

5. Standardisation of incident reporting.
   Standardisation of incident reporting in a computerised format will be established to enable compilation and review of meaningful information.

Beside clinical issues, the following administrative matters were raised during the Q&A session:

1. Unequal distribution of specialists and the difficulty in getting specialists to work in East Malaysia.

2. Rules and requirements under the subspecialty training programme.

3. Insufficient department budget.

4. Lack of equipment in certain hospitals especially district hospitals.

A special dinner to bid Dato' Inba fare well was organised on the first night of the meeting. The group presented Dato' with a gold plated pewter shield as a show of appreciation for the immense number of contributions he has made in anaesthesia and intensive care in the country.

Overall the meeting was a success. Most participants felt that the meeting was useful and hoped that similar meetings will be held yearly, perhaps at venues outside of KL.

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Calling All MSA Members

Members:

1. The membership dataform is in this issue of Berita Anestesiologi' and will soon be
   available at the MSA website. Please help us update your data via any of these:

Email:	[email protected] (Attn: Ms Kong, MSA secretariat)
Snail mail:	MSA Secretariat 19 Jalan Folly Barat 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel:	03-2093 0100, 2093 0200
Fax:	03-2093 0900
Website:	www.msa.net.my

2. Please visit the MSA website as we value your comments, contributions and suggestions.

3. You are welcome to contribute articles, letters to the editor, etc. for our MSA newsletter Be rita Anestesiologi'. Just email to the MSA secretariat at [email protected]. This newsletter is also available' at the website.

4. We have appointed MSA state representatives with whom you can liaise with for easy access to us, particularly in terms of CME organisation and financial assistance. Their names are listed in this issue of Berita Anestesiologi'.

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Guidelines for Regional Meetings of MSA

1. Each region takes turns to organise one scientific meeting every year.

2. Speakers for meetings consist of Society members as far as possible.

3. Financial subsidy: a maximum of RM 4000/ for each region.

• Regional representative or organising chairperson to submit copy of programme with anticipated budget.

• Society subsidises expenses incurred by speakers.

• Submit statement of accounts at end of meeting.

For details, please call:
Datin Dr V Sivasakthi
at Hospital Melaka
Tel: 06-270 7397

Get going, folks!!!

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