HTA paediatric surgery consultant Dr Zakaria Zahari said such surgeries were usually carried out when the babies were three to six months old.

But due to complications, the twins had to undergo immediate surgery when they were just 17 days old.

The male twins were born at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB), Ipoh,  and had been referred to HTA, formerly known as the Kuala Lumpur Women and Children Hospital, by HRPB neonatologist Dr R Maneet Kaur for further treatment.

“The decision to perform the high-risk surgery was agreed upon after discussions between HRPB and HTA specialist doctors online on March 15,” he said in a statement issued by HTA’s corporate communications unit.

HTA said Zakaria was joined by six other paediatric surgeons from all over Malaysia and a paediatric anaesthesia team led by Dr Intan Zarina Fakir Mohamed and Dr Ruwaida Isa, as well as nearly 20 nurses and paediatric operating room staff.

“The twins were successfully separated in 66 minutes without major complications,” he said.

According to HTA, the conjoined twins shared parts of the liver but other organs were found to be normal.