Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Women and Children's Hospital (HWKKS) has successfully performed the separation surgery of pygopagus conjoined twins, marking a historic medical achievement in the State, according to the State Health Department.
The department said the operation was carried out on July 2 at the hospital's main operating theatre involving premature twin girls born at 32 weeks from Sabah's interior, who were joined at the sacrum, neural tube, lower digestive tract and genital region.
It said one of the twins had heart complications and kidney failure, requiring the separation to be performed at 28 days old instead of the usual four to six months.
The surgery involved a multidisciplinary team comprising specialists in neonatology, anaesthesiology, paediatric surgery, neurosurgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, radiology, nursing and other clinical support staff, including experts from Peninsular Malaysia.
The State Health Department said both babies were successfully separated and remain in stable condition under observation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), adding that the achievement reflects HWKKS' commitment to expanding specialist care for children with complex congenital anomalies in Sabah.
