What changed
2026-08-17 01:19 UTC → 2026-08-21 23:06 UTC ·
added
removed
Conjoined twins die during final separation surgery in Brazil BRA
Conjoined Craniopagus twins Heloísa and Helena Batista da Silva, aged two years and seven months, died during following the fifth and final stage of a planned separation surgery at the Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto in São Paulo. The procedure lasted 15 hours twins, who were joined at the head and involved approximately 50 healthcare professionals. The separation process had been planned since 2024, utilizing a multi-stage approach to mitigate risks. The twins shared brain tissue and blood vessels, had previously undergone four successful preparatory surgeries between August 2025 and March 2026 to prepare manage shared structures and facilitate skin expansion. The final procedure began on August 15, 2026, and lasted approximately 15 hours involving over 50 medical specialists. While the family has confirmed physical separation was completed, the deaths, specific details regarding twins suffered severe circulatory complications. Surgeon Jayme Farina Júnior reported that after 10 hours, the cause twins experienced critical blood pressure fluctuations, including hypertension in one child and profound hypotension in the other. Medical reports indicate the twins suffered cardiac and cardiorespiratory arrest shortly after the procedure. Helena suffered a heart attack at 11:12 pm, followed by Heloísa at 11:26 pm. Despite 25 minutes of death resuscitation efforts, both were pronounced dead. The surgical team noted the twins' bodies could not withstand the instability during the final procedure have separation. Prior to this, the twins had managed health challenges including pneumonia, a tracheostomy, and a gastrostomy. Following the deaths, the twins' father expressed gratitude to the medical team, stating he does not yet been released. view the loss as a defeat for the doctors.