Conjoined Twins Separated With The Help Of Virtual Reality - BBC News
- Home
- News
- Sport
- Business
- Innovation
- Culture
- Travel
- Earth
- Video
- Live
![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)
![PA Media Bernardo and Arthur Lima after surgery](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/F12E/production/_126124716_2.68118657.jpg.webp)
Brazilian twins who were joined at the head have been successfully separated with the help of virtual reality.
Three-year-olds Bernardo and Arthur Lima underwent surgeries in Rio de Janeiro, with direction from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
The teams spent months trialling techniques using virtual reality projections of the twins, based on CT and MRI scans.
It was described by surgeon Noor ul Owase Jeelani as "space-age stuff".
It was one of the most complex separation processes ever completed, according to the charity which funded it - Gemini Untwined - which Mr Jeelani founded in 2018.
He said that, for the first time, surgeons in separate countries wore headsets and operated in the same "virtual reality room" together.
The twins had seven surgeries, involving more than 27 hours of operating time in the final operation alone, and almost 100 medical staff.
![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)
![PA Media Bernardo and Arthur Lima](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/54EE/production/_126124712_2.68118655.jpg.webp)
'Man-on-Mars stuff'
Speaking about the VR aspect of the surgery, Mr Jeelani told the PA news agency: "It's just wonderful. It's really great to see the anatomy and do the surgery before you actually put the children at any risk.
"You can imagine how reassuring that is for the surgeons.
"In some ways these operations are considered the hardest of our time, and to do it in virtual reality was just really man-on-Mars stuff."
He said that previously unsuccessful attempts to separate the boys meant their anatomy was complicated by scar tissue, and he was "really apprehensive" about the risky procedure.
Mr Jeelani said he was "absolutely shattered" after the 27-hour operation, where he took only four 15-minute breaks for food and water, but it was "wonderful" to see the family feeling "over the moon" afterwards.
He added that, as with all conjoined twins after separation, the boys' blood pressures and heart rates were "through the roof" - until they were reunited four days later and touched hands.
The twins are recovering well in hospital, and will be supported with six months of rehabilitation.
![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)
![PA Media Bernardo and Arthur Lima with parents and surgeon](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/A30E/production/_126124714_2.68118656.jpg.webp)
Life-changing
This was Mr Jeelani's sixth separation procedure with Gemini Untwined, after previously operating on twins from Pakistan, Sudan, Israel and Turkey.
He led the procedure alongside Dr Gabriel Mufarrej, head of paediatric surgery at Instituto Estadual do Cerebro Paulo Niemeyer in Brazil.
Dr Mufarrej said the hospital where he works has been caring for the boys for two-and-a-half years, and their separation will be "life-changing".
"Since the parents of the boys came from their home in the Roraima region to Rio to seek our help two-and-a-half years ago, they have become part of our family here in the hospital. We are delighted that the surgery went so well."
Bernardo and Arthur, at almost four years of age, are the oldest craniopagus twins - that is twins with a fused brain - to have been separated.
According to the charity, one in 60,000 births results in conjoined twins, and only 5% of those are craniopagus.
VR helps parents visualise child's surgery
Virtual ward to launch to free up hospital beds
Hololens tech used in bowel cancer surgery
Great Ormond Street HospitalSurgeryTwinsBrazilVirtual realityRelatedArtwork tells stories of babies helped by donor milk
28 May 2024WalesConjoined twins celebrate first birthday
28 Apr 2024TeesJet with 500 toy giraffe passengers takes flight
28 Apr 2024OxfordMore3 days ago![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)
![Javier Milei](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2800/live/17621b60-39a4-11ef-bf7f-dfda9e3154aa.jpg.webp)
Lula to steer clear of visiting Argentine leader
The Brazilian leader cancels a visit to a southern region because Javier Milei plans to be there.
3 days agoLatin America3 days ago![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)
![Argentina forward Lionel Messi at the Copa America](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1bf5/live/137a0ca0-38b0-11ef-9e0e-8bece5dc8f91.jpg.webp)
Messi struggling, Nunez firing - Copa America quarter-final guide
BBC Sport assesses the Copa America knockout stages before the quarter-finals get under way on Friday.
3 days agoFootball4 days ago![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)
![Tony lies in a hospital bed with a breathing mask on and tubes coming out of his chest and he is connected to medial machinery](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2e24/live/c309a620-37c1-11ef-9386-fdd59bd4b6b8.jpg.webp)
Man praises charity's support after heart surgery
Tony Perchard needed help after a triple heart bypass and after he was injured in Storm Ciaran.
4 days agoJersey4 days ago![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)
![Tony Dixon smiling with short grey hair and brown eyes with grey background.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8c6e/live/f8c3d8e0-3892-11ef-b612-21c9c8956b53.jpg.webp)
Tribunal rules after surgeon left women in agony
Tony Dixon, who used artificial mesh to treat prolapsed bowels, 'made a number of failures'.
4 days agoBristol5 days ago![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)
![A damaged seat of the Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner's flight from Madrid to Montevideo](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/cdbd/live/a9d357d0-37f5-11ef-b21f-036eeea28670.jpg.webp)
Plane diverted to Brazil after turbulence injures 30
The Dreamliner plane was flying from Madrid to Montevideo when the mid-air incident happened.
5 days agoLatin AmericaTừ khóa » Vr Arthur
-
Arthur: Helping You Meet And Collaborate In VR
-
Arthur On Oculus Quest
-
Million Arthur VR: Character Command RPG Trên Steam
-
Arthur VR Meeting And Collaboration - YouTube
-
Arthur - LinkedIn
-
Arthur Technologies - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding
-
Cộng đồng Steam :: Million Arthur VR
-
Arthur Technologies | Facebook
-
Hands-On Review Of Arthur Pro, Freshly Out Of Beta | ARPost
-
Ballo Arthur Pita's VR Storybook - FEDORA Platform
-
Arthur's 'Professional Edition' Virtual Reality Office Space And ...
-
Christoph Fleischmann, Founder Of Arthur Technologies
-
Million Arthur VR – Game Nhập Vai đấu Thẻ Tướng Thực Tế ảo Hấp Dẫn
-
Kai-ri-Sei Million Arthur VR | SQUARE ENIX