HTA surgeons separate conjoined twin in 13-hour surgery

SURGEONS at the Tunku Azizah Hospital (HTA) in Kuala Lumpur achieved a medical milestone by successfully separating three-month-old conjoined twins in a 13-hour surgery.

The babies were born with Omphalo-Ischiopagus Tetrapus – a very rare condition where the twins are joined at the abdomen and pelvis and have four legs.

In a statement, the hospital said the surgery on June 24 started at 8.30am and ended at 9.48pm, with complete separation occurring at 5.43pm.

"Alhamdulillah, the surgery went smoothly and both babies are now stable and are being treated at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)," read the statement.

The surgery was led by Dr Mohd Yusof Abdullah; Datuk Dr Zakaria Zahari; Dr Intan Zarina Fakir Mohamed; Dr Phang Yee Yun and the dedicated HTA and Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) pediatric surgical team.

This is the fourth conjoined twins to be separated at HTA since 2019 and the 19th case overall in the history of HTA/HKL.

"Congratulations to the entire team for their extraordinary efforts, expertise and cooperation. "May these two little ones continue to grow up healthy and happy," ended the statement. - July 3, 2025