The Minister of Public Health in the caretaker government, Dr. Firas Al-Abyad, presented the circumstances and details of the first surgical operation of its kind that was performed in Lebanon to separate the twins, Riham and Reem. The two girls are now able to breathe normally in preparation for feeding them.
This came in a press conference held at the Medical Center at the American University of Beirut, in which the president of the university, Dr. Fadlo Khoury, and the surgical, medical and nursing team that prepared for and performed the operation and are still keeping pace with the health status of the two girls who were inspected by the white minister in intensive care, where they are still present. The twins’ parents thanked him for their support and all the efforts he made to ensure the success of the twins separation operation.
Al-Abyadh expressed his pleasure and pride in announcing the success of the surgery to separate the twins, Reham and Reem, explaining that their parents contacted him regarding six months ago to ask for help, following an X-ray that the mother underwent showed the twins’ attachment.
Al-Abyadh continued: “The question was regarding the possibility of carrying out the separation process in Lebanon in light of the difficult conditions that hospital institutions are going through in terms of shortages of supplies, medicines, and medical and nursing staff?” He indicated that he “contacted for this purpose with the American University Hospital, which agreed to perform the operation, and succeeded in proving the ability of the American University and the medical system in Lebanon to carry out an advanced medical service.”
He added, “In fact, our hospital institutions are still able to be in the first line in providing advanced health care to citizens and residents in Lebanon and to maintain what they provided before the crisis. With improved conditions, these institutions will be able to provide more.” He stressed that “the health system in Lebanon, even if it faces great difficulties, is a flexible system and has the ability to present achievements,” thanking the American University Hospital and the professional medical team that performed the operation and accompanied it before and following it, adding that “the American University has always been at the service of Lebanon and its people.” And her presence is a glimmer of hope for Lebanon.”
Then Dr. Khoury thanked the White Minister for his confidence in “The American University, which is proud that it was able, through an excellent medical team, to provide assistance in this difficult time.” He said: “I learned as a doctor and administrator that hope and health are the two most important things in life, and indeed, the American University It is doing everything in its power to provide hope and health to Lebanon and all Lebanese without any discrimination. And I hope that “the achievement that has been achieved will be reflected in increasing the hope of the Lebanese for their future in their homeland, which embodies the university’s mission to have a better life for them.”
After that, those responsible for the medical team explained the procedural details of the surgery. The head of the neonatal intensive care unit, Dr. Khaled Younes, the head of the surgery department at the American University Medical Center, Dr. Jamal Haballah, the head of the anesthesia and resuscitation team, Dr. Mary Maroun Awad, and the director of the nursing team in the unit spoke. Intensive care for newborns Tania Daboul.
It was made clear that the preparation for the completion of the surgical operation took a great effort for four months, as a team of doctors and nurses was prepared to accompany the two girls until they were discharged from the hospital. The full coordination between the team members and planning for all the details played a key role in the success of the operation, which required ten hours and was characterized by great accuracy and extreme sensitivity, in order not to have any negative complications on the separated organs.
