Physicians at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) have successfully completed the first tissue expansion surgery in a bid to separate the conjoined babies Nuha and Naba.

They said the babies will require more such surgeries to be fully separated. The babies are nine-month-and-12-day-old and are now in a high-care unit for post-operative care.

The operation, the first of its kind conducted by BSMMU, was led by Dr Mohammad Hossain, dean of the surgery faculty and also a professor in the neurosurgery department. He along with 15 expert physicians conducted the six-hour surgery from 9am to 3pm on Sunday.

During the operation, four tissue expanders were successfully implanted in Nuha’s and Nabar's bodies. Tissue expansion is a procedure that enables the body to grow extra skin for use in reconstructing almost any part of the body, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr Hossain said the whole operation of the pygopagus conjoined twins is very complicated, sensitive, and time-consuming.

“They will require a few more surgeries.  Proper planning has been made in accordance with the need for the separation operation. The first part of tissue expansion was successful,” he added.

BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, after visiting the twins on Tuesday, said they are doing good after the operation.

“BSMMU has already successfully conducted liver transplant and cadaveric transplant operations and will provide world-class medical services to ensure its first operation to separate the conjoined babies. I hope the spinal fusion surgery will also be successful,” he added.

As per a directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BSMMU formed a 19-member medical board led by Dr Hossain on December 5 last year.

A resident of Kathalbari area, transport worker Alamgir Rana is the father of the babies. The mother, Nasreen, is staying at the hospital with the children. The couple expressed their gratitude to the prime minister for bearing the entire cost of the operation.