Doctors in Limpopo made history after separating conjoined twin boys – born in January at Mankweng Hospital outside Polokwane – in a mammoth eight-hour surgical procedure on Tuesday, reports IOL.
Initial assessments had indicated the boys were joined at the abdomen, and the separation surgery, led by Professor Nyaweleni Tshifularo, revealed that they also shared certain organs.
Tshifularo said afterwards that successfully completing the highly complex procedure was “a great day for the province, the country and for my team, including the specialist nurses I work with”.
“These were identical twins whose separation was incomplete during development. They were delivered here, and after assessing our capabilities, we decided to proceed with the surgery locally.
“We are pleased to report that the babies have been successfully separated. They are alive, they are well, and their mother is overwhelmed with joy,” he said.
The twins were born to a 29-year-old woman who had been referred from Maphutha Malatjie Hospital in Namakgale, where staff had identified the condition during labour and arranged an urgent transfer.
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba praised staff at both Maphutha Malatjie Hospital and Mankweng Hospital for their swift and effective response.
“When the mother presented with no prior history, doctors and midwives were able to detect the condition through ultrasound and immediately transferred her. Mankweng Hospital acted quickly and delivered the babies within an hour.”
Ramathuba said the successful separation operation demonstrates the growing capability of rural healthcare facilities.
She added that the twins were in a stable condition and been transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, where they remain under close medical supervision.
“They are intubated and on ventilators as part of their post-operative care.”
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