Conjoined Twins Tragically Pass Away After Their Hearts Stop 14 Minutes Apart

Five Surgeries and a 15-Hour Final Operation

Since their birth in Ribeirão Preto, the twins remained under close medical observation. The medical team performed four separate operations prior to the final procedure. The final surgery aimed to complete the division process. More than 50 healthcare workers participated in the 15-hour procedure.

Hemodynamic Instability and Cardiac Arrest

Complications arose immediately after the physical separation of the twins. During the procedure, one sister developed high blood pressure while the other experienced low blood pressure, according to treating physicians. Shortly after the complete separation, both children suffered hemodynamic instability. Doctors explained that this dangerous state prevented adequate blood flow to vital organs, triggering the immediate risk of multiple organ failure.

Severe issues in the circulatory and cardiac systems followed the instability. Helena’s heart stopped at 23:12, and Heloísa’s heart stopped at 23:26, based on hospital timelines. Medical personnel attempted resuscitation for approximately 25 minutes without success. Helena was pronounced dead at 23:37, followed by Heloísa at 23:51.

Medical Assessment of Physiological Decline

Plastic surgeon Jayme Farina Júnior, a member of the surgical team, reported that the sisters had battled serious health complications throughout their lives. Júnior stated that the twins suffered multiple bouts of pneumonia, required tracheostomies, and needed gastrostomy tubes for nutrition. These persistent medical challenges severely weakened their bodies over the span of two years. During the final separation phase, the sudden physiological changes proved too much for their compromised systems, leading directly to cardiac arrest, according to Júnior.

Father’s Statement to the Medical Team

Amarildo Batista da Silva, the father of the twins, spoke publicly following the death of his daughters. Silva expressed gratitude to the medical team for their tireless efforts to save the children during the procedure. He explicitly stated that he did not hold the doctors responsible for the outcome. Addressing the healthcare staff, Silva said, “Every child you lose is a defeat, and every child you manage to save is a victory. I’m sure you have many more victories than defeats, so this cannot be considered a defeat.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the deaths of Helena and Heloísa Batista da Silva?

The twins died from multiple organ failure and cardiac arrest following severe hemodynamic instability that occurred immediately after their final separation surgery.

How many surgeries did the twins undergo?

Helena and Heloísa underwent a total of five surgeries over their two-year lives, with the final operation lasting approximately 15 hours and involving more than 50 medical personnel.

What did the attending medical team say about the children’s health?

According to plastic surgeon Jayme Farina Júnior, the twins had endured a history of pneumonia, tracheostomies, and nutritional support needs, which left their bodies too fragile to withstand the physiological stress of the final separation.