Conjoined twins Maria Helena and Maria Eva begin prep for separation surgery in Goiânia

Three‑month‑old twins Maria Helena and Maria Eva, born joined at the abdomen in São Paulo, have traveled to Goiânia, Brazil, to start pre‑operative preparation for a surgical separation. They are being treated at the Hospital Estadual da Criança e do Adolescente (HECAD) under the care of a multidisciplinary team.

The complex procedure will be performed by pediatric surgeon Zacharias Calil, a nationally recognised specialist in conjoined‑twin separations. Preparation includes extensive examinations, clinical assessments and the placement of skin expanders to generate sufficient tissue for abdominal reconstruction. The surgery will be funded through Brazil’s public health system (SUS), and no definitive surgery date has been set pending further clinical evaluation.