China: Separation of conjoined twins

On July 22, Chinese doctors performed an operation to separate the conjoined twins 4 months old. The surgery was initially successful, with the health of the two patients being quite stable.

These two conjoined twin girls were born prematurely, without sternum. Over the past four months, the two children have lived a life of heart, liver, a large part of their chest and abdomen.

Doctor Li Yanmin, head of the pediatric department of Hospital No. 1 (Hubei University of Medicine) said the surgery lasted nearly 12 hours. Doctors have separated the liver, heart, and created sternum for two babies. Both are now in stable condition, but are still in danger within 72 hours after the operation.

It is known that the two children have congenital heart disease and both weigh only 4.3 kg at birth. Doctors had to wait until the 7.5-kg baby dared to perform surgery.

Last week, doctors in southwestern China also had separate operations for two newborn girls, but one of them died of heart and lung disease.

Two conjoined twin girls are located in the No. 1 Hospital (Shijiazhuang, Hubei Province) before surgery (Photo: Xinhua)

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