Three-year-old twins conjoined at the head were successfully separated by Brazilian surgeons.
Craniopagus twins Bernardo and Arthur Lima became the oldest twins to survive such a surgical procedure, which was previously deemed impossible by experts consulted by Brazilian pediatric surgeons from Instituto Estadual do Cerebro Paulo Niemeyer.
“The procedures involved nearly 100 medical staff and seven separate surgeries, with over 33 hours operating time in the final two surgeries alone. However, most importantly, they were successful,” read a press release from U.K. charity Gemini Untwined, which provides “hope and treatment for cranial conjoined twins globally through pioneering research and treatment.”
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The Lima twins shared vital veins between their brains. They had spent two and a half years at Instituto Estadual do Cerebro Paulo Niemeyer before partnering with Gemini Untwined, which had led five other separations in Pakistan, Sudan, Israel, and Turkey before. Gemini Untwined even implemented a trial surgery conducted cross-continentally in virtual reality with the Brazilian team, the first instance of the technology used for such a medical procedure in the country.
“As a parent myself, it is always such a special privilege to be able to improve the outcome for these children and their family,” Gemini Untwined Lead Surgeon Dr. Noor ul Owase Jeelani said. “Not only have we provided a new future for the boys and their family, we have equipped the local team with the capabilities and confidence to undertake such complex work successfully again in the future.”
Bernardo and Arthur will spend six more months in the institute for rehabilitation. They will celebrate their fourth birthday soon by finally having the ability to look at each other.
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Conjoined twins make up about 11-13% of twin births, according to a study. Roughly 40% are stillborn, and 35% who survive die in the first 24 hours. Those who undergo surgery have about a 60% chance of survival.
