The Doctors at King George’s Medical University successfully separated one-year-old Siamese twins surgically, in an operation that lasted for 9 exhaustive hours, on Tuesday. This is the first time, that such a surgery was conducted at the KGMU and its success vouches for Lucknow’s excellent medical treatment, which has now brought hope for more such cases in the neighbouring regions.
Success for KGMU’s Maiden Attempt
The first attempt at the surgical separation of Siamese twins was declared successful by KGMU doctors, early on Tuesday morning when the baby twins responded well after the 9-hour long surgery. The baby patients are kept under medical observation as of now. Now, adaptability and post surgical recovery stands as the real test for both, the patients and the doctors. When the babies begin to accept and digest of food, “That is when we can say that the surgery has been successful in the true sense of the term,” one of the doctors at KGMU stated.
The twins were born to a couple in Kushinagar district last year in November. The babies had two livers but they were joined. Similarly, the epicardium (outermost layer of the heart), chest and a part of the food pipe were also joined together. The parents brought the twins to KGMU with the help of an NGO a few months ago. The conjoined twins were first examined by the department of paediatric surgery which suggested that the separation surgery should be done after they are at least a year old. The date of the surgery was pushed to test the viability of their survival as most such babies are either stillborn or die shortly after birth.
Head of the department Prof S.N. Kureel planned a surgery to separate the twins with the help of various super-speciality departments. While Prof Kureel and J.D. Rawat of paediatrics surgery coordinated the surgery, head of gastro surgery department Prof Abhijit Chandra and his colleague Vivek Gupta worked on separation of the liver and food pipe. Ambrish Kumar performed the separation of heart and chest. The team of anaesthesia department comprising head Prof G.P. Singh, Vinita Singh and Satish Verma assisted doctors in all the surgeries.
What are Siamese Conjoined Twins?
‘Siamese’ twins are twins that are conjoined physically, sharing one or more vital organs. This is a very rare phenomenon that occurs in an estimated range from 1 in 49,000 births to 1 in 189,000 births. The term ‘Siamese’ was coined when the first such occurrence was reported in Siam. This condition happens when an early embryo separates partially to form two individuals, causing them to share organs.
-With inputs from IANS
