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Conjoined twins in Palembang undergo successful separation surgery
A team or surgeons from the Muhammad Hoesin Hospital (RSMH) in Palembang, South Sumatra, have successfully separated 18-month conjoined twins Rahma and Rahmi following a 12-hour operation
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team or surgeons from the Muhammad Hoesin Hospital (RSMH) in Palembang, South Sumatra, have successfully separated 18-month conjoined twins Rahma and Rahmi following a 12-hour operation.
'We are really thankful that the surgery was successful,' said RSMH director Yanuar Hamid in Palembang on Saturday evening. The operation was shorter than the 29 hours previously predicted by the team of surgeons.
Yanuar said the team started the procedure by separating the pelvis, intestines, urinary tract, reproductive organs and liver.
Currently, both twins are being treated at the hospital's intensive care unit to help them move out of their critical condition and recover from the surgery.
'After this, we will undertake surgery to tidy up the structure of the twins' internal organs that have been separated,' said Yanuar. He added that further intensive treatment needed to be carried out due to possible complications in the organs.
The twins' mother, Lia Rusdiana, said she was very grateful that the separation went well. 'I've been ready for all the risks,' she said. The surgery started at 5:30 a.m. local time on Saturday.
The separation surgery was carried out by 30 doctors from the RSMH, supported by 23 specialists from Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya, East Java.
'Soetomo Hospital has performed 53 conjoined twins' separations and it has only failed twice, due to anatomy and heart abnormalities in the babies,' said Yanuar.
The surgery cost Rp 400 million (US$40,400) and it was fully covered by the local administration via its health coverage program. Initially, the procedure was scheduled to take place on June 22 but it was delayed as the twins contracted flu. (fan/ebf)
