Second Siamese twin released from intensive care in Bangladesh

Rokaiya, one of the Siamese twins separated by Hungarian doctors in a series of operations in Bangladesh and Hungary, has been released from intensive care and taken to a special ward to share with her sister, Rabeya, and their parents, the Foundation for Defenceless People that organised the operation told MTI on Thursday.

The three-year-old twins were separated in a 33-hour operation on August 1-2 in Dhaka, in what was the final step in a series of medical procedures dubbed “Operation Freedom”. The first phase of Operation Freedom, including groundbreaking work to separate the blood flow of the brains, was conducted by a Hungarian team led by István Hudák in Bangladesh in August 2018.

The marathon operation in Dhaka was carried out by a team of 35 Hungarian doctors and assistants led by András Csokay from Budapest’s Honvéd Hospital.

Rabeya regained consciousness five days after the separation operation and was released from intensive care earlier than her sister as her condition gradually improved, the foundation said in a statement.

Rokaiya, however, suffered a serious brain bleeding 33 days after the surgery due to a coagulation disorder caused by the return of complications linked to a previously successfully treated infection. As a result, her state has deteriorated significantly, though she is still able to move her limbs and open her eyes, said the foundation.

As regards the degree of Rokaiya’s expected recovery “a responsible statement still cannot be made,” it added

The foundation said that their doctors will return to Bangladesh to assess the condition of the twins with special attention paid to Rokaiya and the possibility of her rehabilitation.

Operation Freedom is in its fourth phase which includes skull reconstruction operations, the foundation said.

Source: MTI