Uzbek doctors separated conjoined twins for the first time

For the first time in Uzbekistan, Uzbek doctors performed an operation to separate conjoined twins and it was successful.  This was reported by the Ministry of Health.

It is noted that these conjoined twins were born on 31 May 2022 in Kyrgyzstan.  When the babies were born, their total weight was 1,600 grams and they were named Fatima and Zuhra.  They were born from a marriage between close relatives, i.e. children of sisters.

Ten days after the birth, the parents were told that the children had no chance of survival and were allowed to go home.  However, the parents turned to Bakhtiyor Ergashev, head of the neonatal surgery center at the Republican Perinatal Center in Uzbekistan, on this issue.

The operation took place on 19 December 2022 and lasted 3 hours.  This complex surgery was successfully performed.  It was the abdominal part of Fatima and Zuhra’s body, or more precisely, their liver, that was joined.  Separating twins with the same internal organs is a very complicated and dangerous operation.  Consequently, the fact that the children's gall bladders were not joined together was the reason for the successful outcome of the operation.

Specialists who took part in the operation were awarded with the badge “Excellence of Health” and honorary certificates by the Minister of Health Amrillo Inoyatov.  

For reference, conjoined twins are born with certain parts of their bodies attached.  Their internal organs may also be united.  Conjoined babies can eventually be separated surgically, but twins with shared internal organs are nearly impossible to separate.

Usually, conjoined twins can occur once in 200,000 cases.  According to information, most of them are stillborn.  Between 5% and 25% of live births are lucky enough to live a long life.

Until now, this type of practice has been carried out only once in Uzbekistan at the Republican Center for Scientific and Practical Surgery.  In that case, the operation was conducted under the leadership and direct participation of an expert who had been called in from abroad.