A group of physicians have separated critically conjoined 15-month-old twins – Rifa and Shifa – at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital after a 10-hour surgery.Â
The surgery on the conjoined twins administrated on September 7, said the DMCH at a press conference on Monday.
The DMCH paediatric surgery department professor, Sahnur Islam, said that after a successful surgery, one of the twins, Rifa, had recovered, while her sister, Shifa, was facing heart-related issues.
‘Shifa is now undergoing treatment at the hospital’s intensive care unit,’ added Sahnur Islam.
Mahmuda Khatun, wife of Badsha Hawlader, a resident of Betagi in Barguna, gave birth to the twins in caesarean section on June 7, 2023, with conjoined at the abdomen. They also have a six-year-old daughter.
Prof Sahnur also said that Rifa and Shifa shared several organs, complicating the surgical process, but the post-operative results had been positive.
On June 14, the family contacted the hospital, and the twins were admitted to the hospital on June 21.
After different process and tests, several surgeries were performed to separate the bodies.
The DMCH director Md Asaduzzaman said that this was a significant challenge and commended the dedication of the surgical team.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s social welfare, Akij Group, National Heart Foundation, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, among others, supported the family for the surgery.
The family of the twins expressed gratitude for the support and financial assistance they received from the medical staff and hospital management.