Successfully separated two conjoined girls

On the morning of July 15, at the Children's Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, a surgery was performed to separate the conjoined twin girls Truc Nhi and Dieu Nhi, who were very rarely conjoined in the pelvic area.

The surgery was closely coordinated by interdisciplinary departments: Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Urology, Anesthesia, Resuscitation, Preoperative Resuscitation, Instrumentation, Infection Control, Diagnostic Imaging, Nursing.

The surgical team led by Dr. Truong Quang Dinh - Director of the City Children's Hospital consisted of 100 medical staff, including more than 60 doctors, nurses and staff of the City Children's Hospital and nearly 30 experts from major hospitals and centers across the country: Children's Hospital 1, Children's Hospital 2, Cho Ray Hospital, Orthopedic Trauma Hospital, Eye Hospital, Xuyen A Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City.

At the surgery, Professor Tran Dong A - Head of the surgical team that separated the conjoined Vietnamese-German twins 32 years ago was also present as a professional advisor.

Previously, on June 7, 2019, the two babies were safely delivered by a cesarean section by doctors at Hung Vuong Hospital. The two babies were conjoined in the pelvic area, 2 genitals, and 1 anus. To prepare for the separation surgery, the two babies have been continuously cared for and treated since July 2019. Up to now, the two babies are 13 months old, weigh 15kg, and have good health indicators to ensure the surgery.

It is known that this is an extremely rare case of conjoined twins in the pelvic area with 4 legs separated in the ischiopagus tetrapus (quadripus) style. According to estimates in the world, the rate of conjoined twins is 1:200,000 live births. Of these, only 6% are conjoined in the ischiopagus tetrapus style.

At 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, the doctors have completely separated the two babies and divided them into two teams. The next step is to close the internal organs and reconstruct them. Nearly 100 people are working hard to give the two babies a healthy life like other children.

The surgery is expected to last about 12 hours, ending at 6 p.m. the same day. After the surgery, both babies will continue to receive post-operative care at the City Children's Hospital.

Nearly 100 leading experts, doctors, and medical staff from many hospitals in the city joined forces to perform the surgery. Accompanying the two babies since birth, doctors at the City Children's Hospital have been taking care of them day and night to ensure their health until today.

After the morning, the surgery showed initial positive signs with anesthesia and stable skin incisions. In the early afternoon, the doctors separated the bones, prepared to separate the two babies, and moved them to two different operating rooms.

At 2 p.m., the doctors will complete the separation of the two babies into two independent bodies. After that, the two teams will proceed to close the internal organs and shape them.

The surgery is expected to end at 6:00 p.m. this afternoon, after 12 hours of surgery.

The surgical and consulting team included representatives from several hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City.