Surgery to separate Bangladeshi conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna is planned to take place at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne next week. A media briefing was held at the RCH at 10.30am today.
Now almost three years old, the twins are joined at the head and were brought to Melbourne by Moira Kelly’s Children First Foundation (CFF) in 2007.
After assessment at the RCH the decision was made to attempt separation. Since then RCH neurosurgeon Wirginia Maixner and her team have performed several delicate life threatening procedures to redirect shared blood flow.
In August the plastic and maxillofacial team led by surgeon Andrew Greensmith inserted tissue expanders for the second time to create the new tissue required for the separation procedure. The first tissue expanders were removed in January due to a serious infection.
During all these procedures, the anaesthesia team provided crucial care for the twins, caring for two children having major surgery at once, and dealing with the complex life threatening stresses that the twins’ unique and changing cross circulation created.
At least 20 other departments at the RCH have come in contact with the girls in the past two years.
A team of 16 comprising neuro- and plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre nurses and technicians will be in theatre for the complex and extremely high risk surgery.
The girls continue to be cared for by Moira Kelly AO and her team of supporters. You can read more about Moira’s Children First Foundation here.
Media enquiries:
Julie Webber: Direct 9345 5130 AH 9345 5522 and page
