JERUSALEM: A rare operation was successfully conducted in southern Israel’s Saroka Medical Center in which the heads of one-year-old twin girls were separated.

According to the hospital management, their heads were connected since birth.

The operation lasted for 12 hours. It was performed by 50 medical staff members of the hospital, along with international experts, the hospital said.

The baby girls were born in August 2020, and their heads were connected since then. Over the past few weeks they have undergone extensive tests and have been under close medical supervision by the hospital, particularly the cardiac and respiratory function, prior to surgery, the hospital added.

At the surgery, the doctors separated the twins’ brains and blood vessels, and then recovered the skull, meninges and skin.

Pediatric Neurosurgery Director Mickey Gideon said, “The rare operation was carried out perfectly,” adding that he expected the twins to fully recover.  (Xinhua)