The longest time surgery is currently held by a team of surgeons who conducted a 34-hour procedure to separate two conjoined twins in South Africa in 2017. The procedure, which was conducted at the Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, involved a team of 30 medical staff and was considered to be a success.
What Are Conjoined Twins?
Conjoined twins are siblings who share a single placenta and are physically connected to each other. This occurs when the zygote splits late and incompletely, resulting in the formation of two embryos that remain physically connected to each other. This type of twinning is very rare, occurring in only 1 in every 200,000 births.
What Was Involved in the Surgery?
The surgery involved separating the twins' shared organs, including their liver, intestine, and bladder, and reconstructing the separated organs. The procedure was incredibly complex and required the medical team to take extreme care to ensure the safety of the twins. In addition to the medical staff, the procedure was supervised by a specialist team of anesthetists, pediatricians, and nurses.
What Are the Risks Involved With Long Surgery?
As with any major operation, there are risks associated with long surgery. These include blood loss, infection, nerve damage, and anesthetic complications. In addition, there is a risk of organ failure due to the separation of the shared organs. The medical team involved in the procedure took extreme care to reduce the risks associated with the surgery and the twins made a full recovery without any major complications.
Conclusion
The longest time surgery is currently held by a team of surgeons who conducted a 34-hour procedure to separate two conjoined twins in South Africa in 2017. This procedure was incredibly complex and required a team of 30 medical staff and specialists to ensure the safety of the twins. However, the procedure was a success and the twins made a full recovery without any major complications.
