Top UK surgeons have successfully separated one-year-old conjoined twins, Minal and Mirha, who were attached at the head. The complex procedure, carried out at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital in Turkey, was led by renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Professor Noor ul Owase Jeelani from London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The 14-hour surgery, completed on July 19, involved a team of 60 medical professionals and took place over the course of three months in two stages. Minal and Mirha, who hail from Pakistan, are now recovering in the Turkish hospital and are expected to make a full recovery.
Speaking to Sky News about the success of the operation, Professor Jeelani said, “They’re making an excellent recovery, really wonderful. They should be in a position to go back to Pakistan in a few weeks.”
The procedure was particularly challenging due to the location where the twins were conjoined—at the front of the head—meaning they shared vital blood vessels and brain tissue. In preparation for the operation, surgeons utilized advanced Mixed Reality (MR) technology, which allowed them to rehearse the procedure using 3D images of the twins’ medical scans. This innovative technology also helped train local medics at the Turkish hospital.
Minal and Mirha’s parents, Rehan Ali and Nazia Parveen, expressed their gratitude and joy following the successful surgery. “We are overwhelmed and incredibly grateful for the efforts of Professor Jeelani and the entire team,” said Ali.
Professor Jeelani has become a world leader in highly technical surgeries, such as this one. In 2022, he performed another groundbreaking surgery, separating Brazilian twins Bernardo and Arthur Lima, who were also conjoined at the head, in a marathon 27-hour procedure. Jeelani reflected on the emotional aftermath of these surgeries, stating, “There were a lot of tears and hugs. It was wonderful to be able to help them on this journey.”
Jeelani’s charity, Gemini Untwined, continues to raise funds for siblings born joined at the head. According to the organization, one in 60,000 births results in conjoined twins, and only 5% are fused at the head. Twins who are not separated have a very low life expectancy, with 40% stillborn or dying during labour.
