Separated conjoined twins by Chennai doctors would return home in a month’s time
Posted on: 21/Dec/2013 1:08:52 PM
Nine-month-old Tanzanian conjoined twins, Ericana and Eluidi were separated by surgeons of Apollo Speciality Hospital, Vanagaram in Chennai after a 12 hour surgery.
The twins, who were joined at the posterior, shared an anus, urinary passage and a penis. Medical literature terms such siblings as pygopagus twins, who account for 17% of the conjoined twin population in the world. Of the 30 sets of pygopagus twins reported across the world, 26 were female and only four were male. Dr V Sripathi, senior consultant paediatric urology led the team of 20 specialists.
During diagnosis, doctors found that the pygopagus twins had their tail ends of the spines joined. Neurosurgeons identified the place where the spine was fused and divided it while protecting all the nerve routes. Surgeons then separated the rectum, anus, penis and urethra. The surgery, which was undertaken by senior specialists from neurosurgery, plastic surgery, paediatric surgery and paediatric urology.
Doctors say the babies, who were admitted to the hospital five months ago, would be fit to return home in a month`s time.
