Kirkuk doctors perform first conjoined-twin separation, saving surviving newborn

KIRKUK — A medical team at Kirkuk’s Maternity and Children Hospital has carried out the governorate’s first conjoined-twin separation, performing an emergency operation that saved the life of a four-day-old newborn, the hospital said Sunday.

According to the hospital’s statement, one of the twins had died shortly after birth, creating an immediate threat to the surviving infant. A specialized team assembled urgently to perform the separation.

The surgery took place on Nov. 23 and lasted two hours. Doctors separated the spinal column, lower-back tissues and shared muscles, allowing the surviving newborn to be stabilized. After postoperative monitoring, the child was discharged to the family in stable condition.

The hospital said the procedure was overseen by a team of surgeons and pediatric specialists experienced in complex neonatal cases. The hospital director described the operation as a significant medical milestone for Kirkuk and credited the surgical and nursing teams for their work.

He said the hospital will continue working to expand specialized services for children and newborns in the governorate.