California surgeons at the UC Davis Children’s Hospital have successfully separated nine-month-old conjoined twins after performing a 24-hour operation.
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The twins, Abigail and Micaela Bachinskiy, were born with the extremely rare circumstance where they were conjoined at the head. ABC 10 reports the girls were labeled as Craniopagus twins, a rare moment that happens in every 1 out of 2.5 million births. Their mother, Lillya said she discovered her daughters were conjoined twins when she was 11 weeks pregnant and doctors used an MRI to create a plan to safely deliver the girls.
Surgeons performed the operation on Friday, Oct.23, and finished on Saturday, Oct.24 after using the MRI scans to indicate the challenges doctors faced such as collapsed lungs and other respiratory issues. Pediatric neurosurgeon Michael Edwards said the girls are doing “well” after the remarkable surgery.
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“Abigail and Micaela are doing well and recovering in our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, thanks to an amazing team effort dedicated to ensuring these very rare twins have the best shot at a healthy life ahead. We are honored to have helped with their birth, cared for them since, and to now give them the chance to live independent and separate lives.”
SOURCE: ABC 10