VR Technology Helps Doctors Successfully Separate Joined Twins
2022-08-04
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1A team of doctors has used virtual reality technology to prepare for an operation that successfully separated twins joined at the head.
2Virtual reality, or VR, is a computer environment designed to simulate real-life conditions and objects.
3People can use headsets or other electronic equipment to experience VR environments.
4VR technology was used by doctors in Brazil and Britain who were involved in the operation, or surgery, involving the joined twins.
5The twin boys are named Arthur and Bernardo.
6They were born in a rural part of northern Brazil in 2018.
7The two were joined at the head and shared some brain tissue.
8Doctors in Brazil had attempted to separate the boys in the past, but they were unsuccessful.
9Medical experts had advised the parents that performing further surgery would be too risky.
10But the hospital that cared for the twins for the past two-and-a-half years decided to contact a British charity that has financed and provided medical teams to support similar separations.
11The charity is called Gemini Untwined.
12Its creator and director is Noor ul Owase Jeelani.
13He is a surgeon at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
14Jeelani specializes in separating joined twins, especially those linked at the head.
15Gemini Untwined has helped carry out several successful surgeries of child twins since it was established in 2018.
16But Jeelani said the separation of Arthur and Bernardo was the most difficult operation yet.
17He explained in a statement that this is because the boys shared important veins in the brain.
18At four years old, the twins were also the oldest with connected brain tissue to try separation surgery, Jeelani added.
19The process to separate the twins - carried out at Rio's Paulo Niemeyer State Brain Institute - was long and intense.
20Jeelani said a total of seven surgeries, involving more than 100 medical workers, were required.
21The final two operations in June lasted about 33 hours.
22He said the surgeries were completely successful.
23Jeelani said a major reason for the successful separation was the VR training the medical teams from Britain and Brazil received in the months leading up to the real-life operations.
24The teams used brain scans of the boys to create a digital map of their shared heads and brain tissue.
25Using this data, doctors performed several trial operations with the use of VR equipment.
26The simulated surgeries permitted the teams to try out different methods that were used in the actual operations.
27VR technology is currently used in a number of ways in the medical field, including past separation surgeries involving twins.
28But Jeelani said it was the first time the technology has been used for this purpose in Brazil.
29Speaking to Britain's PA Media news agency, Jeelani said, "It's just wonderful, it's really great to see the anatomy and do the surgery before you actually put the children at any risk."
30He added that VR training before this kind of operation is "reassuring" for the surgeons involved.
31"In some ways these operations are considered the hardest of our time," Jeelani added.
32"And to do it in virtual reality was just really man-on-Mars stuff," meaning the technology was something really unusual and complex.
33The boys' mother, Adriely Lima, expressed the family's relief and happiness as they look forward to finally bringing the twins home.
34"We've been living in the hospital for nearly four years," she said. Lima added, "Our heart is full of gratitude."
35I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A team of doctors has used virtual reality technology to prepare for an operation that successfully separated twins joined at the head. 2Virtual reality, or VR, is a computer environment designed to simulate real-life conditions and objects. People can use headsets or other electronic equipment to experience VR environments. 3VR technology was used by doctors in Brazil and Britain who were involved in the operation, or surgery, involving the joined twins. 4The twin boys are named Arthur and Bernardo. They were born in a rural part of northern Brazil in 2018. The two were joined at the head and shared some brain tissue. 5Doctors in Brazil had attempted to separate the boys in the past, but they were unsuccessful. Medical experts had advised the parents that performing further surgery would be too risky. 6But the hospital that cared for the twins for the past two-and-a-half years decided to contact a British charity that has financed and provided medical teams to support similar separations. 7The charity is called Gemini Untwined. Its creator and director is Noor ul Owase Jeelani. He is a surgeon at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Jeelani specializes in separating joined twins, especially those linked at the head. 8Gemini Untwined has helped carry out several successful surgeries of child twins since it was established in 2018. But Jeelani said the separation of Arthur and Bernardo was the most difficult operation yet. 9He explained in a statement that this is because the boys shared important veins in the brain. At four years old, the twins were also the oldest with connected brain tissue to try separation surgery, Jeelani added. 10The process to separate the twins - carried out at Rio's Paulo Niemeyer State Brain Institute - was long and intense. Jeelani said a total of seven surgeries, involving more than 100 medical workers, were required. The final two operations in June lasted about 33 hours. He said the surgeries were completely successful. 11Jeelani said a major reason for the successful separation was the VR training the medical teams from Britain and Brazil received in the months leading up to the real-life operations. 12The teams used brain scans of the boys to create a digital map of their shared heads and brain tissue. Using this data, doctors performed several trial operations with the use of VR equipment. The simulated surgeries permitted the teams to try out different methods that were used in the actual operations. 13VR technology is currently used in a number of ways in the medical field, including past separation surgeries involving twins. But Jeelani said it was the first time the technology has been used for this purpose in Brazil. 14Speaking to Britain's PA Media news agency, Jeelani said, "It's just wonderful, it's really great to see the anatomy and do the surgery before you actually put the children at any risk." 15He added that VR training before this kind of operation is "reassuring" for the surgeons involved. "In some ways these operations are considered the hardest of our time," Jeelani added. "And to do it in virtual reality was just really man-on-Mars stuff," meaning the technology was something really unusual and complex. 16The boys' mother, Adriely Lima, expressed the family's relief and happiness as they look forward to finally bringing the twins home. "We've been living in the hospital for nearly four years," she said. Lima added, "Our heart is full of gratitude." 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Agence France-Presse, PA Media and Gemini Untwined. 19__________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21twins - n. two babies born at the same time to the same mother 22simulate - v. to do or make something that looks real, but is not 23charity - n. an official organization that gives money, food or helps people in need 24vein - n. one of the tubes in the body that carries blood to the heart 25scan - v. to use a special machine to read or copy images into a computer 26anatomy - n. the scientific study of the body and how its parts are arranged 27reassure - v. say something to stop someone from worrying 28gratitude - n. the feeling or quality of being grateful: feeling or showing thanks 29_____________________________________________________________________ 30What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 31Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.