After 33 hours of surgery, the separation of conjoined twins with merged brains was accomplished.
Before commencing the actual treatments on the three-year-old Brazilian boys, surgeons spent months utilizing virtual reality to test techniques.
Bernardo and Arthur Lima underwent multiple procedures in Rio de Janeiro, under the supervision of Great Ormond Street Hospital pediatric surgeon Noor ul Owase Jeelani.
The three-year-old boys underwent a total of seven operations, with the latter two requiring more than 33 hours of operating time and nearly 100 medical personnel.
Before initiating actual surgeries, surgeons spent months experimenting with virtual reality approaches.
Mr. Jeelani and Dr. Gabriel Mufarrej, head of pediatric surgery at Instituto Estadual do Cerebro Paulo Niemeyer, oversaw their surgery.
Mr. Jeelani characterized the operation as a “great feat” by the medical staff, but stressed that Gemini Untwined relies on donations from the public to continue its work.
He said: “The effective separation of Bernardo and Arthur is an outstanding example of the significance of Gemini Untangled’s work and a great accomplishment by the Rio team.
“We have not only created a new future for the boys and their families, but we have also equipped the local team with the skills and confidence to effectively complete such complicated work in the future.
“Through this process of worldwide collaboration and knowledge-sharing, we may aspire to better the outcome for all children and families in this tough situation.
This is only achievable via the generosity of the general public.
Life-changing
The hospital where Gabriel Mufarrej works has been caring for the boys for two and a half years, and their next surgery will be “life-changing.”
He said: “Since the parents of the boys traveled from Roraima to Rio to seek our assistance two and a half years ago, they have been part of our hospital family.
“We are thrilled that the operation went so successfully and that the boys and their family have experienced such a life-altering result.”
Gemini Untwined, a nonprofit created by Mr. Jaleeni to raise funds for siblings born connected at the head, also known as craniopagus twins, sponsored their efforts.
According to the organization, separating Bernardo and Arthur was one of the most difficult separation procedures ever undertaken, and many surgeons did not believe it was feasible.
They are also the oldest craniopagus twins with a merged brain to have been separated, as they are nearly four years old.
According to the charity, both twins are healing well in the hospital and will receive six months of rehabilitation care.
Gemini statistics indicate that one in 60,000 births results in conjoined twins, of which only 5% are craniopagus children.
