Mizoram: Doctors successfully separate conjoined twins at Zoram Medical College

Falkawn: Marking a first-of-its-kind surgical feat in Mizoram, the doctors at Zoram Medical College successfully separated a pair of conjoined twins through a complex surgical process last week.  

The twins were born on February 9, 2023, in Lawngtlai, a southern district in Mizoram, and were joined at the chest, abdomen and liver. The babies were referred to ZMC from the Lawngtlai District Hospital. 

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Speaking to EastMojo, ZMC Director Dr. T Lalhmangaihi said, "A surgeon team consisting of a paediatric surgeon, plastic surgeon, general surgeon and anaesthesiologist performed the operation for three hours." 

He said that the twins shared a common liver which would not support both of them, and hence the liver was separated with the hope that it would support one of the two. Before the operation, the ZMC radiologists had performed a careful study via contrast CT scan. A number of tests were conducted and consultation was taken with anesthesiologists to decide on the next step. 

Eventually, consent was taken from the parents to perform the operation in order to save at least one child, said the director. Currently, both the babies in ZMC’s NICU and their condition is being monitored. 

A staff member said, "As soon as the babies were born, they were put in an SNCU. The medical team who performed the c-section at the time of their birth had to work for extended hours due to the complication of the case." She further added that the family members want to protect their privacy from media.