DMCH docs prepare to separate twins with fused heads

Doctors in Bangladesh are taking preparation to separate fused heads of 19-month-old twins in an arduous surgery.

Doctors at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) are hoping for a successful surgery in Bangladesh's first attempt on twins joined at the head, reports bdnews24.com.

Last year, the DMCH successfully separated 10-month-old sisters conjoined along their spinal columns.

Conjoined sisters Rabeya and Rokeya were born in July last year to Rafiqul Islam and Taslima Khatun, both teachers at a government school in the northern district of Pabna.

The sisters have remained at the DMCH's Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit since February 21, following which a 21-member medical board was formed.

On Tuesday, they went through a three-hour angiogram, allowing the doctors to get a clear understanding of the blood vessels.

"This is the initial step," said Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit.

After the twins were born on July 16, 2016, they were under treatment by Professor Ruhul Amin at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said father Rafiqul adding it was tough for him to afford the cost.

When the sisters were first brought to the DMCH, a 19-member team was formed and was later expanded with two Hungarian neurosurgeons.