Twins’ Future Rated Highly (Press, 1 August 1984)

On 1 August 1984, it was reported that Win Htut and Lin Htut, Siamese twins from Rangoon, Burma, successfully underwent a complex 17-hour surgery that separated them and included a gender reassignment for Win Htut. Surgeons, Dr Robert Filler and Dr Geoffry Barker, announced that both twins had a 95 per cent chance of recovering physically. Win Htut transitioned into a female during the operation, while Lin Htut retained his male characteristics. As of the report, both children were in stable condition and progressing well. The procedure was notable for being the first of its kind in medical history due to the simultaneous separation and sex change. The twins were conjoined from the diaphragm down, had male chromosomes, and shared a single set of male genitals. The surgeons faced the decision of whether to change one or both twins into females. The parents expressed a preference for one boy, leading the medical team to determine that Lin Htut would be the more suitable candidate to remain male. A large surgical team of 43 members was involved in the operation, which included the construction of a vagina for Win Htut, and it was anticipated that Lin Htut would eventually have the ability to procreate. Following the surgery, both children are slated to receive sex hormone treatments. Dr Filler noted that this operation was the most complicated he had ever undertaken, surpassing previous separations he performed on female Siamese twins. During the surgery, the team separated the twins’ pelvis and liver, as well as their kidneys and intestines, and created an artificial abdominal wall for Win Htut. She will require careful monitoring every three to four hours to ensure proper healing of the grafted material. Both Win Htut and Lin Htut will also receive artificial legs to aid their mobility. According to the doctors, the twins' lives would be more manageable than those of individuals with paraplegia. Since their birth, the twins have been hospitalized and have not yet experienced life outside a medical facility.

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