CONJOINED TWINS UNDER CLOSE CARE AT POMGEN

Photo caption: Conjoined twins receiving care at PMGH.

PORT Moresby General Hospital’s multidisciplinary clinical team continues to provide medical care to the conjoined twins since their admission last month.

The conjoined twins were received by the neonatal team following the medical evacuation (Medevac) from ANGAU Memorial Hospital in Lae, Morobe province on the 15th October 2025, and have been under the close supervision of the neonatal and specialist teams.

PMGH CEO Dr. Paki Molumi stated that following the extensive consultations, medical examinations, and assessments by multidisciplinary clinical team, both infants were found to have complex congenital anomalies.

According to the clinical findings, one of the twins has a single kidney, hypo plastic lungs, a severe congenital heart defect; they both share a liver, urinary bladder and portions of gastrointestinal tract and spinal dysraphism noted on the CT scans of the twins.

“These anomalies are significant and even within a highly specialised surgical and intensive care setting; the outcome remains the extremely guarded, with a high likelihood of fatality for one or both infants,” Dr. Molumi stated.

Dr. Molumi further stated that should separation occur on the twins it would likely be the survival of one twin.

The long-term medical care, interventions and rehabilitation required would be extensive for the family to sustain.

The parents who had two other children aged 12 and 8 have been fully informed of these considerations.

“Taking all these factors into account, our team collectively agreed that it is in the best interest of the twins and their family to continue care here at the Port Moresby General Hospital.”

“We remain committed to providing the specialised clinical and supportive care to both infants as well as psychological and social support to the parents and family during this difficult time,” Dr. Molumi said.