In an extraordinary medical feat, a leading London-based surgeon has successfully separated one-year-old twin girls in a complex, 14-hour operation using mixed reality (MR) technology. The procedure was performed by Professor Noor ul Owase Jeelani, a consultant pediatric neurosurgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) at the Ankara Bilkent City Hospital in Turkey.
The operation, which took place in two stages over three months, culminated in a final 14-hour procedure. Mixed reality (MR) technology, which combines 3D imaging with the physical world, was used to enhance the precision of the surgery. Prof. Jeelani’s team relied on this cutting-edge technology to navigate the intricate process of separating the twins’ shared blood vessels.
The twins, Minal and Mirha, were born in Pakistan with a rare condition known as craniopagus, which left them conjoined at the head, sharing vital blood vessels. Their case was referred to Prof. Jeelani and his team in October 2023, just weeks after the girls were born. Now, after the successful surgery, the twins are in recovery and are expected to make full recoveries.
Prof. Jeelani, who carried out the operation through his charity, Gemini Untwined, spoke of the emotional and intellectual investment he has in each of his cases. “From what I hear, the girls are thriving,” he told the *Evening Standard*. “My team sometimes calls me the ‘triplet’ because I become so intellectually and emotionally invested in helping these children. It was incredibly rewarding to see two healthy children and the joy on their parents’ faces—a truly wonderful feeling.”
This latest achievement follows similar success for Prof. Jeelani in 2020, when he operated on two Turkish boys with the same condition. Through the Gemini Untwined charity, Prof. Jeelani is dedicated to advancing surgery and treatment for children with craniopagus and other complex craniofacial conditions.
Coordinating the operation involved significant logistical challenges, including arranging travel for the children from Pakistan to Turkey and transporting the surgical team from the UK. However, Prof. Jeelani praised the Turkish government and medical staff for their support, stating, “It was logistically complex, but it went really well, and the Turkish team was fantastic. Against the odds, we managed to pull it off.” The successful operation not only brings hope to Minal and Mirha’s family but also represents a significant milestone in the treatment of craniopagus twins worldwide.
Source- The Street Journal
