Siamese twins die in Bangladesh

Separating Siamese twins is a complex operation

Both Siamese twins who were separated successfully in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, on Tuesday have died in hospital.

This was the first ever operation on Siamese twins in the country.

Saving one is better than losing both

Professor Masood

The twins, who were joined by their abdomen, were delivered by Caesarean section in a private hospital last week.

But they were later shifted to the state-run Dhaka children's Hospital after their condition deteriorated.

A team of six surgeons, led by Professor AFM Masood, found that one of the twins was not doing well and decided to separate them.

"Saving one is better than losing both," said the professor before performing the operation.

Minimum age

Although both twins had separate stomachs, lungs, gall bladders, hearts and kidneys, they shared a liver.

The surgeons later found that the stomachs and intestines were found conjoined inside the abdomen.

After much discussion, the surgeons decided to separate the liver.

After the operation, both babies were moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) - but both died later.

Professor Masood told the BBC that although they had no prior experience on separating twins, they had to act fast because their condition was deteriorating.

Medical experts say the minimum age for separating twins is one year.

Prof Masood said they took the decision to carry out the operation after consulting the parents of the twins who were unable to afford the cost of an operation abroad.