Conjoined Siamese twins, who were born in Cameroon, regained their health after a successful 27-hour surgery in Istanbul.
According to the statement made by Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital, twins Elizabeth and Mary conjoined from the hip were brought to Turkey with the initiative of the Presidency of Cameroon.
Pediatric Surgeon Prof. Dr. Burak Tander, Pediatric Neurosurgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Memet Özek, Aesthetic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Hakan Ağır, Anesthesiologist Assoc. Dr. Serpil Ustalar Özgen and Pediatric Intensive Care Specialist Prof. Dr. Under the supervision of Agop Çıtak, many physicians and health professionals from urology to the intensive care team, from radiology to physical therapy and cardiovascular surgery began to work to separate conjoined twins.
It was continued on a multidisciplinary basis 7 months before the twin surgery.
In order to minimize the risk, 3D models of the twins were prepared by preoperative radiological and angiographic examinations. After the preparations, the twins, who were taken into surgery, regained their health after a 27-hour operation. The twins’ father, Richard Akwe, said the babies were not able to move freely and the thought of hurting them upset them. Describing babies as gifts, father Akwe said that children cry constantly during breastfeeding.
Mother Caroline Akwe said, “Despite all the difficulties, I breastfed my babies for a year. We have never lost hope that both of them can be separated from each other in good health. And that dream has become a reality with the extraordinary efforts and success of Turkish physicians.”
