- Oct 09, 2018
- 5737
Conjoined Twins From Bhutan To Be Separated On Friday
The marathon surgery may take six to 12 hours to complete. It involves getting the liver divided safely.
By Kinley Yangden | Bhutan Times
After few rounds of medical tests and health screenings, surgeons from Melbourne, Australia have set a date for the surgery to separate Bhutan's first recorded conjoined twins, Nima and Dawa Pelden.
The 14-month-old girls, who are joined at the torso, will undergo a life-changing surgery this Friday at the Royal Children's Hospital. The surgical team are confident about the operation, reported the Australian media.
After reviewing some "sophisticated scans", pediatric head surgeon Joe Crameri said he felt that the team was in a good position to give their mother Bumcho Zangmo "her ultimate wish which is to go forward with the separation of the children".
Potential blood loss
The girls share a liver and are believed to share part of a bowel, but the extent of their combined functions will not be known until surgery is underway.
The marathon surgery may take six to 12 hours to complete. It involves getting the liver divided safely. Surgeon Tom Clarnette said there could also be potential blood loss.
Dr Joe Crameri, left, and Dr Ian McKenzie. (Photo: Stuart McEvoy/The Australian)
"The imaging seems to be favourable in terms of what we need to achieve but surgery is always a case of 'expect the unexpected' and certainly that will be the case here," said Mr Clarnette.
According to the Australian Associated Press, surgery and recovery will cost at least A$350,000.
The Victoria government has pledged to cover the costs and additional funds raised will be used to cover the girls' recovery and their return to Bhutan.