After 33 hours of surgery, conjoined twins with linked brains have been successfully separated.
Under the supervision of a pediatric surgeon from London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital who practices in the UK, Noor ul Owase Jeelani, Bernardo and Arthur Lima had a number of operations in Rio de Janeiro.
The three-year-old boys underwent a total of seven operations, requiring nearly 100 medical professionals and more than 33 hours of operating time in just the final two procedures.
Before starting the actual treatments, surgeons practiced various approaches in virtual reality for months.
Mr. Jeelani and Dr. Gabriel Mufarrej, director of pediatric surgery at the Instituto Estadual do Cerebro Paulo Niemeyer, oversaw their surgery.
Mr. Jeelani described the operation as a “remarkable achievement” by medics but added the charity, Gemini Untwined, relies on public donations to keep its work going.
He said: “The successful separation of Bernardo and Arthur is a remarkable achievement by the team in Rio and a fantastic example of why the work of Gemini Untwined is so valuable.
“Not only have we provided a new future for the boys and their families, but we have also equipped the local team with the capabilities and confidence to undertake such complex work successfully again in the future.
“It is through this process of teamwork and knowledge-sharing globally that we can hope to improve the outcome for all children and families that find themselves in this difficult position.
“This is only possible through generous donations from members of the public.”
Life-changing
Gabriel Mufarrej said the hospital where he works had been caring for the boys for two and a half years, and their surgery will be “life-changing”.
He said: “Since the parents of the boys came from their home in the Roraima region to Rio to seek our help two and a half years ago, they had become part of our family here in the hospital.
“We are delighted that the surgery went so well and the boys and their family have had such a life-changing outcome.”
Their work was supported by Gemini Untwined, a charity founded by Mr. Jaleeni to raise funds for siblings born joined at the head – called craniopagus twins.
Freeing Bernardo and Arthur from one another was one of the most complex separation processes ever completed, and many surgeons did not think it would be possible, according to the charity.
Since the twins are almost four years old, they are also the oldest craniopagus twins with a fused brain to have been separated.
Both twins are recovering well in hospital and will be supported with six months of rehabilitation, the charity has said.
According to Gemini figures, one in 60,000 births results in conjoined twins, and only 5% of these are craniopagus children.