Rare Conjoined Twins Successfully Separated by Nemours Surgeons at Wolfson Children's Hospital

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Jacksonville, Florida, May 11, 2015 – Carter and Conner, conjoined twin boys born Dec. 12, 2014, in Jacksonville, Fla., underwent a successful separation surgery on May 7, 2015. The
12-hour surgery began at 7:11 am, led by a team of highly skilled pediatric specialists that included Daniel Robie, MD, chief of pediatric general surgery, and Nicholas Poulos, MD, pediatric general surgeon, for Nemours Children’s Specialty Care and Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The boys were separated at 3:34 pm.

Conner’s surgery was finished at 6:29 pm and he was transferred from OR 8 to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Wolfson Children’s Hospital at 6:52 pm. Carter’s surgery ended at 6:47 pm and he was transferred to the PICU at 7:14 pm to join his brother.

The separation involved a 17-member surgical care team (blue for Carter, green for Conner and white for surgical support).

From the day after their birth to the morning of their final separation surgery, Carter and Conner received care in Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s Level III Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) under the direction of Josef Cortez, MD, and Ma Ingyinn, MD, neonatologists with the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine – Jacksonville.

During their stay to now, the boys have been cared for by nearly 200 health care professionals that include neonatal and pediatric critical care nurses, pediatric respiratory therapists, rehabilitation therapists, Child Life specialists, pediatric chaplains and other health care disciplines.

Before Separation Surgery
On Dec. 13, 2014, the twins underwent emergency surgery to repair a potentially life-threatening condition called a ruptured omphalocele, in which their shared small intestine protruded through a weak area of the abdominal wall. Dr. Robie and Dr. Poulos positioned the babies’ shared small intestine back inside their abdominal wall and placed a temporary mesh patch over it to keep the bowel inside.

On Jan. 2, 2015, the boys underwent an additional surgery to remove the temporary mesh. Dr. Robie and Dr. Poulos then partially separated the shared small intestine to enable the babies to feed orally. During the procedure, the pediatric surgeons discovered that the boys had two bile ducts that also were fused. Conner and Carter’s livers and bile ducts were left intact for the May 7, 2015, separation surgery.
Hope for the Future
“We are honored and thank the Mirabal and Brantley family for placing their trust in us to care for their beautiful baby boys,” said Dr. Robie. “During this critical period on the road to recovery that is ahead of Carter and Conner, they have the wonderful support of their family and a skilled care team who are committed to their recovery, development and best possible health.”

Carter and Conner’s mother, Michelle, said, “We are so grateful to everyone who has taken care of our babies. We had so much confidence in them and they have been so good to us and to our family. We can’t wait to take Carter and Conner home!”

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About Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville
Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, is a part of Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s most comprehensive health system serving every stage of life. Wolfson Children’s is the only hospital just for kids in Northeast Florida and serves as the region’s pediatric referral center. Staffed 24/7 by pediatric nurses and other healthcare professionals specially trained to work with children, the 213-bed, patient- and family-centered hospital features the latest pediatric medical technology in a welcoming, child-friendly environment.

About Nemours Children’s Health System
Nemours (NAH-mors) is an internationally recognized children’s health system that owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida along with major pediatric specialty clinics in Delaware, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Established as The Nemours Foundation through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. du Pont, Nemours offers pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy and prevention programs to all families in the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.Nemours.org.

About the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville
The University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville is the largest of three UF colleges on the 110-acre UF Health Jacksonville campus. The college’s 15 clinical science departments house more than 380 faculty members. The college offers more than 30 different graduate medical education programs and has more than 300 residents and fellows in training. Last year, the college secured more than $19 million for research projects – the sixth consecutive year funding has increased.

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