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Sri Lankan doctors perform world-first surgery to separate conjoined twins
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka /Health & Science

Sri Lankan doctors perform world-first surgery to separate conjoined twins

From Lankadeepa · () Sinhala

Translated from Sinhala, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Doctors successfully separated conjoined twins, Linuli and Lithuli, who were joined at the pelvis.
  • The complex surgery involved transplanting one of the twins' two kidneys to the other, a procedure described as a world first.
  • The medical team at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, including specialists from various departments, performed the separation surgery on June 10.

A team of Sri Lankan doctors has achieved a groundbreaking medical feat, successfully separating conjoined twins who were joined at the pelvis. The twins, Linuli and Lithuli, underwent a complex procedure at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Children's Hospital, and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Peradeniya.

Such a surgery has been performed for the first time in the world.

— Dr. Mathula HettiarachchiA specialist surgeon at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialized Children's Hospital and a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, described the significance of the kidney transplant aspect of the surgery.

A critical aspect of the surgery involved transplanting one of the twins' two kidneys to the other, a procedure that specialists described as a world first. This intricate operation was performed after the twins' kidney function returned to normal following an earlier kidney transplant. The separation surgery itself took place on June 10, with the twins recovering in the intensive care unit before being moved to a regular ward.

We have performed about 200 pediatric kidney transplants at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, and that experience was very useful in successfully performing this surgery.

— Prof. Bandula SamarasingheA professor of surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, and a specialist surgeon at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, commented on the experience gained from previous surgeries.

The twins were born in 2021 via Cesarean section to a mother residing in Mawaneella. The medical team, comprising 15 specialist doctors and around 30 support staff, worked for an extended period, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., to ensure the success of the operation. Doctors noted the twins' good health and the potential for further surgeries in the future.

These children were kept under anesthesia for a long time, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., for the surgery, and the good functioning of their heart, lungs, circulatory system, and brain supported the success of the surgery.

— Dr. Ashani RatnayakeAnesthesiology specialist and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, commented on the duration and the children's condition during the operation.

Specialist surgeon Dr. Mathula Hettiarachchi highlighted the significance of the kidney transplant aspect, stating it was the first time such a procedure had been performed globally. Professor Bandula Samarasinghe, a pediatric kidney transplant surgeon, mentioned that the team's experience from performing approximately 200 pediatric kidney transplants at Peradeniya Teaching Hospital was invaluable to this success. Anesthesiologist Dr. Ashani Ratnayake confirmed the twins remained under anesthesia for the entire duration of the surgery, and their vital organ functions remained stable throughout.

An unusual positioning of the pelvic girdle was observed in these two children, and their legs were positioned crosswise.

— Dr. Akalanka JayasingheAn orthopedic specialist surgeon at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialized Children's Hospital described the physical condition of the conjoined twins.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Lankadeepa in Sinhala. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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