A set of conjoint twins named Dulneth and Dilruwan (names have been changed to maintain confidentiality) were born in 2010 at Castle Street Hospital for Women following lower segment caesarian section. Their combined birth weight was 4.5kg. They were Thoraco-omphalopagus conjoined twins. They shared a common liver which had to be separated so that each twin got half of a functional liver. The pericardium was also shared by both twins but they had separate hearts. They were transferred to the Intensive care unit (ICU) at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital where they were cared for 9 months till they were physiologically stable and preparations were made for the proper procedure to be carried out in due course. After all investigations which were carried out by the Department of Radiology to establish the exact anatomy the surgery was planned to be carried out by a team of surgeons and anaesthetists helped by other staff of LRH itself.
For the first time in Sri Lankan medical history the surgical team headed by Dr. Dharmasri Jayawardhene which included Dr. Romesh Gunasekera, Dr. Kanchana Singappuli, Dr. Ranjan Dias, Dr. Malik Samarasinghe and other members of the surgical team successfully performed the surgery on January 10th 2011 to separate twins for which the anaesthesia coverage was given by the team headed by Dr. P.M.S. Wijayasuriya which included Dr (Mrs). Dayani Mendis, Dr (Mrs) Seetha Alwis and the team. The ICU, theatre and ward staff provided their fullest support on this worthy cause which was a success right throughout.
Today Dulneth and Dilruwan are healthy children who are performing well in their studies.