One of the conjoined twins from Limpopo, separated during groundbreaking and complex surgery at Mankweng Hospital, died last Friday after complications from post-operative infections, reports News24.
The surviving twin was airlifted to Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria the next day, after the death of his sibling.
The two were born joined at the abdomen on 28 January. They also shared a liver and parts of other abdominal structures.
Provincial government spokesperson Ndavhe Ramakuela said Twin B was transferred after a multidisciplinary clinical team meeting involving Premier Phophi Ramathuba and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
“While the loss of Twin A has affected everyone, team Mankweng Hospital has been understandably deeply affected…so it was critical to allow another team in a different and protected environment to continue with care,” Ramakuela said.
The infant died of multiple organ failure in the early hours of Friday morning, after both babies having developed sepsis in the wake of their separation surgery.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who visited the hospital, confirmed that the infant who died had, surprisingly, been the stronger of the two at birth.
His surviving twin, who has since been taken off a ventilator, is showing signs of recovery and is breastfeeding, he added.
“He weighs 3.9kg, and is growing very well. The doctors did their best, but ultimately, the outcome of life rests with the Creator. Medical staff can only do so much,” Motsoaledi said.
The death came just weeks after the province celebrated what was described as a medical milestone: an eight-hour operation, led by Professor Nyaweleni Tshifularo, to separate the boys.
It marked the first time such a complex procedure had been performed at a rural hospital in South Africa.
Tshifularo, addressing the media alongside Ramathuba on Friday, said the surgical phase had been executed successfully, but the danger had always lain in the post-operative period.
“We prepared very well. We operated; we separated very well. It is within that stage that we had problems,” he said.
The complications had emerged around day five after surgery, when both babies developed infection. Tshifularo said the medical team managed to stabilise one of the twins, but the other did not respond to treatment.
“We won with one, but with the other, we didn’t win… we fought for that baby.”
Ramathuba said the twin who died had shown signs of recovery after undergoing further procedures, raising hopes that the worst had passed. “At some stage we thought we were out of danger. But the condition changed, and then deteriorated.”
Despite the loss, both Ramathuba and Tshifularo said the separation itself had been successful.
Tshifularo, who is devastated by the loss, added that the team had followed every protocol in preparing for the operation, including seven multidisciplinary planning sessions and simulation exercises.
“We did everything right,” he said.
Ramathuba said the surviving twin remained under close medical supervision and was showing signs of recovery.
“He been extubated, is breathing on his own, and is stable,” she added.
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