In Israel: rare operation to separate twins connected primarily carried out at the Soroka University Medical Center from general
surgery to separate the twins girls this year was carried out using medical personnel of the hospital in conjunction with international experts, the preparation and the preparation of many months,
Dr. Mickey Gideon, director of the pediatric neurosurgeon at Soroka : "This is a rare and complex operation, which has been performed so far in the world only about 20 times and for the first time in Israel. And in this case even in very young babies. The surgery and the preparation for it were performed by the best and most skilled staff at the hospital, and it reinforces the sense of mission that made us doctors. The next few days will be critical in the process of the twins' recovery and recovery. "
A rare operation to separate the twins attached to their heads was performed last Thursday at Soroka Medical Center.
Dozens of staff members accompanied the family from the moment of birth until the day of surgery. Preparations were made for their complex birth which included the staff of the Saban Center for Obstetrics, Physicians and Nurses from the Saban Center for Pediatrics, Anesthesiologists and Imaging.
A dedicated team was held for many months in a kind of "operation order" ahead of the day of the separation operation.
Separation analysis of twins attached to their heads is done in several steps.
In the present case, in the first stage, the treatment team introduced skin and tissue extenders several months ago in order to produce excess skin that will be used to close the scalp of the two girls after the separation.
Over the past few months the twins have undergone extensive tests, been under continuous monitoring by the Institute for Child Development in Soroka along with the social service that accompanied the family members, in addition to close and close medical monitoring of both cardiac and respiratory function.
They came for regular check-ups at the hospital, and in the last three months have come for more frequent treatment to continue the skin enlargement operation and prepare for the final stage.
The multidisciplinary team used two models prior to the analysis:
3D models and virtual reality (VR) models.
The 3D models of STRATASYS, 3D4OP are based on the images of MRI, CT, and angiography and they simulate in the most reliable and accurate way the complexity of the connection of the blood vessels, meninges, skull bones and skin of the two.
Using the VR model of SURGICAL THEATER, it was possible to make simulations of the analysis and plan it in the exact way possible. Using this model it is possible to go into the depth of the connection between them, see common blood vessels and perform a simulation of all stages of surgery.
Dozens of repetitions and simulations of all stages of the operation were performed in each of the models of all the partner team members.
In the surgery itself, after the separation of the blood vessels was successful, the bones were separated.
At this point, the team members split into two teams that work in parallel in two separate operating rooms, performing a reconstruction of the skull of each of the girls and closing the skin.
The operation, which lasted more than 12 hours, involves about 50 staff members from each hospital who took part in both the many preparations and the execution: specialists in neurosurgery, specialists in plastic surgery, specialists in anesthesia, pediatric intensive care specialists, brain imaging specialists, operating room nurses, Nursing teams, pharmacists, laboratories, social work service teams, logistics teams,
as well as two international experts with previous experience in this type of surgery:
Dr. Owase Jeelani, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Great Ormand Street Hospital. Hospital, London, England, founder of the Gemini Untwined association, which deals with the treatment and research of twins connected by their heads, and Dr. David Staffenberg, a plastic surgery specialist from NYU LANGONE in the USA.
The analysis and preparation has led to:
Dr. Mickey Gideon, director of the pediatric neurosurgeon at Soroka - TEAM LEADER, Dr. Israel Melamed, head of the department of neurosurgery, Dr. Yuval Sofer, Deputy Director of the Department of Neurosurgery, and Dr. Ido Ben-Zvi Department of Neurosurgery
Prof. Eldad Zilberstein, Director of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Soroka, Dr. Yaron Shoham, Senior Physician in the Department of Plastic Surgery
Prof. Alex Zlotnik, Chairman of the Division of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Dr. Avner Leon, Dr. Sergei Tsergorodtsev, Dr. Anna Gribnyov And Dr. Yotam Zat from the Anesthesia Division, and the team of anesthesia technicians
Prof. Ilan Shelef, Director of the Imaging Institute at Soroka, Dr. Ella Bankovich and Dr. Rusa Nouva from the Imaging Department
Dr. Tzachi Lazar, Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, D. R. Yuval Kwari, Senior Physician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Tal Hayun, nurse in charge of the southern operating room, Ricky Biner, operating room and recovery room nurse and operating room nursing staff: Bruria Assulin, Ohad Schneider Mizrahi, Tal Carmel, Oksana Israelov, Vladislav Schiff, Galina Maran, Zeev Greenberg, Atua Abu Arar and Avishai Cohen.
Dr. Mickey Gidon, Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Soroka ": This is a very rare operation, performed so far in the world only about 20 times and for the first time in Israel, in one-year-old babies, one of the youngest in which this procedure was performed in the world. The complex surgery and the preparation for it were performed by the best and most skilled teams in the country, combined with advanced equipment and technologies, some of which were specially brought to Soroka for the surgery, such as the equipment of the 3D models and virtual reality and special monitoring devices for COVIDIEN brain oxidation. This complex and unique surgery and the amazing teamwork strengthen the sense of mission that made us doctors. "
Dr. Gidon notes: "The next few days will be critical in the process of the girls' recovery and recovery."
Dr. Shlomi Kodesh, director of Soroka Medical Center: "The patients together with an international team of doctors. I am very proud of our teams, from all the fields and sectors that have joined this challenging and complex operation. I wish complete medicine to the twins and the family."