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Conjoined twins in capital separated

ABU DHABI — Doctors in Abu Dhabi have successfully separated the two-year-old conjoined twins while retaining their gender.

The twins, according to doctors, are in the pink of health and are recovering at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Al Mafraq Hospital. They are expected to be discharged within the coming four days.

Doctors were sceptical about the issue of gender and said that they might be compelled to change the sex of one of the twins, in case final investigations show that one of the children does not have male organs.

The 15-hour delicate surgery was a record as the doctors had thought it take more than 20 hours to separate Hassan and Hussein, who had one genitalia and are considered to be the second rare case for conjoined male twins in the history of Siamese twins.

"Computer animation diagnosis showed that the twins have two male organs fused in one. This has reduced the possibilities of changing the sex of one of the conjoined twins. However, due to the complication of the surgery, decision to retain the gender, was taken on the spot," Dr Gohary told this reporter following a Press conference held on Friday evening to announce the outcome of the operation.

A team of medical experts comprising nine professors from the UAE, Sudan and Britain in the field of paediatric, anesthesia, plastic and neuro surgery led by Dr Amin Mohammed Al Gohary, Consultant and Head of Paediatric Surgery at Al Mafraq Hospital, operated on the twins at 7pm on Thursday.

"A person could not really realise his potential unless he feels it was crucial . I thought it was impossible to stand in the operation room for all those long hours without collapsing," said the excited yet fatigue doctor Gohary.

He said the twins will have functioning genitals with acceptable normal appearance, he said.

In July, the twins underwent tissue expansion operation to have enough skin to cover the external defect. Another operation was carried out for Hassan during the same period to remove a cystitis after preliminary investigation showed the need.

Elaborating on the moments of the operation, he said: "The great challenge facing the team was that the long period of anesthesia might have affected the nerves of the twins legs. We were optimistic, however it was extremely difficult to make any conclusions concerning the impact of the anesthesia on the children."

"Doctors were also cautioned about heavy bleeding while the cosmetic appearance has been another challenge. However, the medical team used only one blood unit out of the 12 prepared for intervention in case of heavy bleeding. Cosmetically, the lot of muscles mobilisation that took place during the surgery, served us to have a plenty of skin to cover the external defects," he said.

"Another major problem that faced the medical team in the operation theatre was variations in blood pressure, heart beats and the hemoglobin level of the twins, which required more attention concerning dose of anesthesia," added Dr Gohary.

He said the 48 hours post operation will be of crucial importance until the children come out of the ventilators.

The parents of the twins, who are from Kurdfan, Western province of Sudan, expressed their delight over the survival of their children.

"I am extremely happy that my kids have survived and would be able to lead a normal life," said Sarah Jadeen Ali, mother of the twins with eyes shining with tears.

"First, I thought that I wanted the twins to remain males, but the moment they were taken to the operation room, my sole hope was that they survive and be safe," said the delighted Ahmed Mohammed Ali, the father of the twins.

Hassan and Hussein, born to Sudanese parents, were brought to the UAE in June by the General Authority for Health Services for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (GAHS)'s Voluntary Medical Group, who tours the developing countries for carrying out complicated operations for needy patients.

The surgery was fully sponsored by Lieutenant-General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces.