Uzbek doctors separated Siamese twins for the first time 

The Ministry of Health reported that for the first time in the history of medicine, Siamese twins were separated by Uzbek doctors as a result of a very rare operation.

“Neonatal surgery educational-treatment-methodical center at the Republican perinatal center is a unique institution in terms of performing complex operations on newborns.

This can be seen from the influx of patients from neighboring countries.

Parents of Kyrgyz twins, who heard about this hospital from relatives in Uzbekistan, applied here in June of last year,” the ministry said.

It is reported that the babies born on May 31, 2022 are Siamese twins, and this unusual condition in them was detected at 28 weeks of pregnancy, and the expectant mother was sent from Osh to Bishkek. In the 29th week, the delivery process was carried out by “caesarean” method. When the babies (Fotima and Zuhra) were born, their total weight was 1,600 grams.

The abdominal part of the babies’ body, or rather the liver, was fused. Separating twins with the same internal organs was a very complicated and dangerous operation. They were born from a marriage between close relatives, that is, from the children of siblings.

10 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, who did not give up hope that their children would survive, contacted Bakhtiyor Ergashev, the head of the neonatal surgery center at the Republican Perinatal Center in Uzbekistan, by phone after a month.

Experienced neonatal surgeon, professor B. Ergashev said that it was necessary to undergo more thorough medical examinations. In October, babies were brought to the Neonatal Surgery Training-Treatment-Methodological Center of the Republican Perinatal Center. At that time, they were 5 months old.

“This extremely complex operation, which was performed at the training-treatment-methodological center of neonatal surgery, was carried out entirely by Uzbek doctors. We were closely assisted by our mentors – Director of the Center for Developing Professional Qualifications of Medical Workers, Professor Khabibullo Okilov and Head of Pediatric Surgery Department of TashPTI, Professor Nasriddin Ergashev.

Until December 16 of last year, the team of the Republican Perinatal Center consulted among themselves. The twins were fully conciliated. All high-tech medical equipment in the facility had been inspected. As an experiment, test operations were carried out, and both the medical team and technologies were brought to a state of readiness. After that, the operation was scheduled for December 19.

Professor Bakhtiyor Ergashev started the practice with the consent of his mentors.

“The operation lasted 3 hours. It has been proven that children are united with each other through the liver. In order to prevent bleeding from the liver and other blood vessels when separating children, we used ultrasound and an argon scalpel, as well as a modern hemostatic material called “Bloodstop”. As a result, the children were separated with minimal bleeding,” B. Ergashev said.

The gall bladders of the patients were formed individually. This ensured that when the two bodies were separated, these organs would perform their functions smoothly.

Thus, the twins were successfully separated. Specialists of the Pediatric Department of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Care made a great contribution to restoring their health.

“It is hoped that the babies will be discharged in the near future. A large team of surgeons, who worked together at a professional level, played a key role in achieving this result.

With their skills, knowledge, experience and courage, they wrote another great event in the annals of Uzbek medicine,” the ministry said.

Health Minister Amrillo Inoyatov awarded the specialists who participated in the operation with the badge “Excellence in healthcare” and honorary certificates.