London Surgeon Professor Noor ul Owase Jeelani Overjoyed After Separating Conjoined Twins
Professor Jeelani, a renowned pediatric neurosurgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital, has successfully separated one-year-old conjoined twin girls, Minal and Mirha, in a complex 14-hour operation in Turkey, reports Evening Standard.
The craniopagus twins, born in Pakistan and joined at the head, shared critical blood vessels and brain tissue, necessitating precise surgery. Following the successful procedure, they are now recovering and expected to fully recover.
Jeelani expressed elation, saying, “It was a really wonderful feeling” to witness the twins’ parents rejoice as their daughters began anew. “Seeing two healthy children and the joy on their parents’ faces was incredibly rewarding,” he added, reiterating, “a really wonderful feeling.”
A three-month surgical process at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital successfully separated conjoined twins using cutting-edge mixed reality technology to isolate shared brain tissue and blood vessels.
According to Professor Jeelani, “Special goggles enabled us to project brain and blood vessel images onto the child’s head during surgery,” highlighting the technology’s precision and potential to revolutionize surgical planning.
Jeelani’s team received the case in 2023, thanks to Gemini Untwined and Turkish government support.
“Against the odds, we succeeded,” Jeelani said, praising the collaborative effort.
Conjoined twins are extremely rare (1 in 2.5 million births) and often fatal. Internationally renowned, Jeelani has separated conjoined twins in Brazil, Israel, and Pakistan.
Although the operation occurred outside the UK, Jeelani emphasized British medicine’s exceptional capabilities: “We are global leaders in complex surgeries.”
Return to Pakistan? Minal and Mirha were born with a rare prenatal condition, leading to their conjoined state, sharing critical blood vessels. “They’re making an excellent recovery, really wonderful,” Jeelani told Sky News. “They should be in a position to go back to Pakistan in a few weeks.”
Gemini Untwined, founded by Jeelani, focuses on improving surgery and treatment for craniopagus children and complex craniofacial conditions.
“We had already operated on two Turkish boys in 2020, so we approached the Turkish government with a similar request,” Jeelani said. “They came back a week later with a positive response.”
Mixed Reality Technology Enhances Surgical Precision
The surgery utilized mixed reality (MR) technology, integrating 3D images with real-world environments to boost accuracy. According to Professor Jeelani:
“During the procedure, specialized goggles provided precise images of brain structures, blood vessels, and other anatomy. This allowed for accurate positioning and superimposition onto the child’s head.”
Jeelani highlighted the benefits of MR technology: “It assures the accuracy of surgical planning and can reveal previously unseen details.” He predicts widespread adoption within five years, hoping to inspire engineers and surgeons to advance this technology.
Conjoined Twins: Rare and Complex
Conjoined twins occur in 1 in 60,000 births, with only 5% being craniopagus. Gemini figures indicate a low life expectancy for conjoined twins, with 40% being stillborn or dying during labor.
This rare phenomenon results from incomplete egg separation during early development. The extent of connection varies between twins.
Despite significant medical challenges, conjoined twins exhibit remarkable resilience and adaptability.
The successful operation spanned two stages over three months, culminating in a 14-hour final procedure.
