Success! Experts separate twins ‘joined at the head’ in Cape Town

Ntombikayise Tyhalisi (31), the mother of a set of conjoined twins who underwent a major operation at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) in Cape Town, has spoken of her unbridled joy – after her newborns were successfully separated AT THE HEAD by medical specialists.

Medical miracles: Conjoined twins separated in Cape Town

Siphosethu and Amahle were born in February. Their condition has been described as ‘the rarest form of conjoined twinning’ by those who operated on them. The babies were joined in a manner that is referred to as ‘craniopagus twinning’. It occurs about once in every 2.5 million live births worldwide – making these siblings a pair of medical marvels!

A multi-disciplinary team involving a full set for each twin was put together for this unique surgery.  Each team comprised of an anaesthetist, neurosurgeon, plastic surgeon, and nurses, spanning across two provincial departments.

Newborns overcome ‘rarest form of twin birth’

• – Siphosethu and Amahle were born in the Eastern Cape.

• – They were sent to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town at only four days old.

• – The Gods were smiling on the Tyhalisis: The connection between the pair did not involve any shared brain tissue.

• – There were also ‘no major blood vessels’ going from one twin to the other.

• – The surgery could have lasted ‘up to six hours’. Instead, doctors finished the separation within 90 minutes.

• – Both patients – and the mother – are doing well following the surgery, and continue to receive follow up care.

Cape Town experts ‘grateful’ for team effort

Doctor Anita Parbhoo, acting CEO for Red Cross WMCH, thanked the dozens of medical experts who ensured the twins’ surgery would be a success, and spoke of her pride for the successful operation they managed to pull off.

“We’re proud of the entire multidisciplinary team involved in helping these twin patients: from the birthing team in the Eastern Cape and the referring clinicians, to our staff in the wards and theatre and then to those involved with the post-surgery care. A huge thank you to everyone.” | Dr. Anita Parbhoo