Conjoined twins who shared fused brains have been successfully separated after 33 hours of surgery.
Bernardo and Arthur Lima underwent several surgeries in Rio de Janeiro, under the direction of UK pediatric surgeon Noor ul Owase Jeelani of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
The three-year-olds had a total of seven operations, which involved more than 33 hours of operation in the last two surgeries alone, and involved almost 100 medical staff.
Surgeons spent months testing techniques using virtual reality before starting actual procedures.
His surgery was directed by Mr. Jeelani, along with Dr. Gabriel Mufarrej, head of pediatric surgery at the Instituto Estadual do Cerebro Paulo Niemeyer.
Jeelani described the operation as a “remarkable achievement” by the doctors, but added that the charity, Gemini Untwined, relies on public donations to sustain its work.
He said: “The successful separation of Bernardo and Arthur is a remarkable achievement by the Rio team 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 family, but we have given the local team the skills and confidence to undertake such a complex job 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 in this difficult position.
“This is only possible through generous donations from members of the public.”
Image: Surgeon Noor ul Owase Jeelani with Bernardo (left) and Arthur, and parents Adriely and Antonia Lima. Image: Gemini Untwined
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 was “life-changing”.
He said: “Since the children’s parents came from their home in the Roraima region of Rio to ask for our help two and a half years ago, they had become part of our family here at the hospital.
“We are delighted that the surgery went so well and that the children and their families had such a life-changing outcome.”
Image: Great Ormond Street Hospital, which assisted in the procedure, is a world-renowned pediatric centre
Their work was supported by Gemini Untwined, a charity founded by Mr. Jaleeni to raise funds for siblings born conjoined at the head, called craniopagus twins.
Freeing Bernardo and Arthur from each other was one of the most complex separation processes ever completed, and many surgeons did not think it would be possible, according to the charity.
As the twins are almost four years old, they are also the oldest fused-brain craniopagus twins to have been separated.
The twins are recovering well in hospital and will be supported with six months of rehabilitation, the charity said.
According to Gemini figures, one in every 60,000 births results in conjoined twins, and only 5% of these are craniopagus children.