VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City-based Children’s Hospital No. 1 successfully separated 15-day-old twins.

Before the operation, one baby suffered from high blood pressure and the other could not urinate for two days. They were conjoined from the breastbone to the navel (around 20cm). Their hearts and livers were stuck together.

The twins are daughters of a woman from the central highlands province of Dak Nong. They were born after 35 weeks in their mother’s matrix, totaling 3.9kg.

Approximately 13 days after birth, the babies’ health became worse. They needed respiratory support. One baby could not urinate for two days, which led to infection.

Doctors decided to conduct an urgent operation, hoping to save at least one baby. The surgery began at 1:00 pm, February 20 and took four hours.

The surgical team included 16 people, led by the Deputy Director Dao Trung Hieu. During the operation, doctors detected that the two infants’ livers were stuck together entirely and one suffered bowel necrosis. They successfully separated the livers after one hour. The two babies were then brought to two operating rooms for finish the operation.

After four days, the two children were resuscitated.

This is the youngest and smallest twins separation ever to occur in Vietnam. The operation and treatment for the twins is free.

Huong Cat