Academic Work: Research Gate Score: 135.9 | Citations: 247 (October 2025)

I. Background

Dr Yow has a significant clinical research portfolio which reflects his diverse interests as well as his lifelong passion in the real-life application of evidence-based surgery and excellent patient outcomes.

Mr Yow’s career as an Academic Vascular Surgeon began in Medical School where he researched tumour markers in gastric cancer. This won him the RCSI P Fitzpatrick Medal in Biological Research.

He has since continued his research in his chosen specialty of Vascular Surgery with a postgraduate thesis in Vascular Tissue Engineering. He has presented in international conferences and published in high-impact, peer-reviewed internationally acclaimed medical journals such as the British Journal of Surgery and Lancet Neurology. His other research fields have included pre-operative fitness testing, aortic aneurysms, carotid surgery and Critical Care medicine.

Mr Yow has also allied his interest in mountaineering with clinical research. He was selected for the Extreme Alps research expedition which examined the brain’s response to low oxygen levels and altitude. For this, he was part of the University College London (UCL) Centre for Altitude, Space & Extreme Environments (CASE) Medicine expedition team that climbed the Capanna Margarita to 15,000 ft to perform experiments into the human response to high altitude. He had previously successfully summited Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mt Kinabalu in Borneo.

Centre for Altitude, Space & Extreme Environments (CASE) Medicine UCL

On his return to Malaysia and since setting up his private practice, Mr Yow continues to use the crucial research skills, knowledge and critical analysis of current research evidence to achieve the best outcomes for his patients. He is passionate about public education on Vascular conditions and regularly presents in GP symposiums and conferences. He is also an invited speaker for talks to the Malaysian public. He has been featured in or interviewed by numerous media outlets including BFM Radio and newspapers such as The Star, New Straits Times, Sin Chew Jit Poh and China Press. He posts regularly on Instagram and Facebook about vascular diseases and their treatment.

II. Clinical Research

International Peer Reviewed Journals

Papers

  1. Yow KH, McCleary AJ. Late lumbar haemorrhage following open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm: a CT appearance resembling a Type II Endoleak. J Vascular Surg 2005; 40(5): 1037–1039.
  2. Yow KH, Ingram J, Korossis SA, Ingham E, Homer-Vanniasinkam S. Tissue engineering of vascular conduits. British Journal of Surgery 2006; 93: 652–661.
  3. Derham C, Yow KH (joint first author), Ingram J, Korossis SA, Ingham E, Homer-Vanniasinkam S. Tissue engineering small diameter vascular grafts: Preparation of a biocompatible porcine ureteric scaffold. Tissue Engineering Part A 2008; 1871–1882.
  4. Yow KH, Korossis SA, Ingram J, Fisher J, Ingham E, Homer-Vanniasinkam S. Decellularised porcine ureter is a strong, compliance-matched, biocompatible scaffold for the tissue engineering of a novel, small calibre cardiovascular graft. British Journal of Surgery 2009; 96(S1): 5.
  5. Yow KH, Jackson C, Lalayiannis A, Jayatunga AP, Rehman A, Pathak R, Shiralkar S. Hardman Index and Glasgow Aneurysm Score in Predicting Survival Following Open Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA). Journal of Vascular Surgery 2010; 51(6): 27S.
  6. Sanborn MR, Edsell ME, Yow KH, Martin DS, Imray CHE, Grocott M. Changes in Peripheral and Cerebral Oxygenation With Altitude and Acclimatization. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2012; 23(2): 193.
  7. Sanborn MR, Kim MN, Mesquita R, Yodh A, Edsell ME, Yow KH, et al. Cerebral Hemodynamics at Altitude Using Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy and Transcranial Doppler. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2012; 23(2): 194.
  8. Goodyear SJ, Yow KH, Saedon M, et al. Pre-operative cardiopulmonary exercise test risk-stratification improves outcomes following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: a cohort study. Perioperative Medicine 2013; 2:10.
  9. Sanborn MR, Edsell ME, Kim MN, Mesquita R, et al. Cerebral Hemodynamics at Altitude: Effects of Hyperventilation and Acclimatization. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2015; 26(2): 133.
  10. Yow KH, Bennett J, Baptiste P, Giordano P. Successful combined management for ruptured superior rectal artery aneurysm in neurofibromatosis type 1. Annals of Vascular Surgery 2015; 29(6): 1317.
  11. Cumpstey AF, Hennis PJ, Grocott M, Edsell ME, Sanborn M, van der Kaaij J, Simpson J, Khosravi M, Yow KH, et al. Effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on microvascular physiology at 4559 m altitude – A randomised controlled trial (Xtreme Alps). Nitric Oxide 2020; 94: 27–35.

Peer-Reviewed Correspondence

  1. Yow KH, Mahmood A, Tiivas C, Higman D, Marshall C, Imray CHE. Letter commenting on variations in pharmacological management of patients treated with carotid endarterectomy. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2009; 38(4):402–7.
  2. Imray CHE, Yow KH, Tiivas C, Higman DJ. Letter to Editor on “Asymptomatic embolisation for prediction of stroke.” The Lancet Neurology 2010; 9(7): 663–671.

Peer Reviewer: “Management of Diabetic Foot Sepsis”, Core Surgery Journal, London, UK (2014).

Presentations to Learned Societies

United Kingdom & Ireland

  • Royal College of Surgeons Biological Society Meeting 1998 – Winner: P Fitzpatrick Medal in Biological Research.
  • Royal College of Physicians Ireland Research Day 1998 – Gastric carcinoma research presentation.
  • White Rose Tissue Engineering Meetings 2004–2005 – Tissue engineering scaffold research.
  • Vascular Society Annual Meeting Bournemouth 2008 – BJS Prize section.
  • West Midlands Surgical Society Meetings 2009–2011 – CPEx testing and vascular surgery outcomes.
  • Association of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland International Surgical Congress 2011 – Poster of Distinction.

International

  • Regenerate 2004 Conference, Seattle, USA.
  • Tissue Engineering of Blood Vessels 2005, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • American Society for Vascular Surgery Annual Meeting 2010, Boston, USA.
  • International Hypoxia Symposia 2011, Lake Louise, Canada.

PEER-REVIEWED POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH THESIS

Postgraduate Doctorate of Medicine(MD) research thesis at University of Leeds

KH Yow. ‘Decellularised porcine ureter : Development of a novel small calibre cardiovascular bypass graft via a tissue engineering approach(2009)’

Background : Dr Yow’s research project aimed to develop a small calibre biological tissue-engineered alternative to synthetic grafts. Globally, ischaemic heart disease and lower limb arterial disease are the largest causes of death and disability. When arteries in the heart block, the patient suffers a heart attack. When lower limb arteries block, the patient suffers gangrene and limb loss. In such situations, despite the advent of angioplasty, open bypass surgery remains a vital tool in the treating surgeon’s armamentarium to treat such disease.

These bypasses require a small calibre bypass graft. It is well-established that biological grafts, such as the patient’s own vein(autologous conduit) perform much better than synthetic/plastic grafts. Synthetic/plastic bypass grafts like ePTFE or polyester(Dacron) close up/block much quicker than biological grafts. An example of good autologous conduit is the patient’s own long saphenous(leg) vein. However, the patient’s veins may not be available (it may have been stripped in a varicose veins operation) or is of insufficient length.

Vascular Tissue Engineering is an exciting 21st century field of clinical research which aims to create biological alternatives to the patient’s own tissue. To do this, scientists either create scaffolds from scratch using, for example 3D printing or use readily available animal sources. Dr Yow’s research involved the latter, using pig ureter(the long muscular tube that connects the kidney to the bladder). Porcine ureter is a branchless, valveless ready made tube that is easily harvested from the retroperitoneum.

To be suitable for human implantation, the porcine ureter had to have the pig cells removed to allow a blank scaffold/canvas for human cell repopulation/recellularization. This is because any foreign cells left behind would lead to tissue rejection.

Dr Yow’s research, which was funded by grants from Leeds General Infirmary Professorial Vascular Unit and the University of Leeds, involved developing decellurisation protocols for the porcine graft and testing the mechanical, chemical and biological compatibility of the new graft scaffold, in comparison with human saphenous vein which was the gold standard. All of this was done with strict UK NHS Ethics Committee approval. Mr Yow’s research work was presented at numerous international conferences and published in high-impact peer-reviewed scientific journals such as the British Journal of Surgery. His MD research was subject to a rigorous oral viva examination by two examiners, one from the University of Cambridge. He passed with commendation in January 2009 and was conferred his postgraduate Doctorate of Medicine in July that year.

III. Medical School Prizes & Medals

  1. JJ Fitzsimmons Gold Medal in Surgery
  2. P Fitzpatrick Medal RCSI Biological Society Prize for Biomedical Research
  3. First Prize & Medal in Forensic and Legal Medicine
  4. First Prize & Medal in Tropical Medicine

IV. Malaysian Media & Press

Newspaper Articles & Interviews

  • The Star (2024): “He Saved My Arm” — pioneering revision hybrid thrombectomy and surgical bypass. Read article
  • New Straits Times (2023): “Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms – Sudden Rupture with Deadly Consequences.” Read article
  • Sin Chew Jit Poh (2023): “Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Importance of Screening & Modern Treatment.” Read article
  • China Press (2023): “Leg Ulcers: Diabetic, Arterial & Venous – Modern Treatment.” Read article
  • Sin Chew Jit Poh (2025): “无症状难发现-腹主动脉瘤可成隐形杀手” – Article on stroke prevention with carotid artery surgery. Read article
  • The Star (2025): “Varicose veins are more than a cosmetic concern.” Read article
  • The Star (2026): “Carotid Surgery & Stroke Prevention : Cleaning Out the Carotid Artery.” Read article

Live Radio Interview

BFM 89.9: “Carotid Surgery in Stroke Prevention” – The Bigger Picture, Health and Living. Listen here

National Conference Invited Speaker

National Heart Association of Malaysia Congress 2024 (05/05/24)
Invited Speaker, Symposium 25: Carotid and Peripheral Artery Disease – Foot ulcer in diabetes: Neuropathic or vascular. Stepwise approach and management.

Social Media & Profiles