Texas surgeons have successfully separated 10-month-old twin sisters who were conjoined at the chest after the highly sensitive surgical procedure last week at Texas Children’s Hospital.
The twin baby girls, Adeline Faith Mata and Knatalye Hope Mata, were born through the Caesarian section (C-section) on April 11, 2014. The girls were born conjoined at the chest and the doctors said they shared a number of organs, including a chest wall, diaphragm, lungs, colon, intestines and pelvis.
The highly advanced surgical procedure was performed by a team of medical professionals, comprising six anesthesiologists, twelve surgeons, eight surgical nurses, and few other helpers.
The girls were separated on Tuesday after approximately 26 hours of rigorous surgical operation. According to the hospital administration, the twin sisters were separated from each other after 18 hours of the operation, and the additional five hours were taken by surgeons on the organs of Knatalye and eight hours on Adeline.
It was a moment of relief for both parents of the twins and medical professionals at the hospital when the surgeons called the marathon surgical procedure a success.
Dr. Darrell Cass, a pediatric surgeon and co-director of Fetal Center at Texas Children Hospital, said, “This is the first time a separation surgery for thoraco-omphalo-ischiopagus twins with this particular configuration has been successful.”
“This surgery was not without its challenges with the girls sharing several organ systems. Our team has been preparing for this surgery for months and we’ve done everything from working with our radiology experts to build a 3-D model of their organs, to conducting simulations of the actual separation surgery,” said Cass, an associate professor of pediatrics, surgery and obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine.
Sharing her happiness at the incredible moment, the twin girls’ mother, Elysse Mata, said, “I want them to have a shot at having a normal life… I am looking forward to going home and dressing them in tutus and bows and purple and pink ribbon… I’m filled with excitement.”
Meanwhile, the hospital administration said that the Mata twins will remain under observation at TCH until they turn strong enough to leave.
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