Surgeons have successfully separated conjoined twins just a day after
they were born. The British girls were joined at the abdomen and shared part of
their intestines.
In a four-hour operation a team of 20 doctors and nurses at Great Ormond
Street Hospital in London were able to separate the twins without complications.
Rosie and Ruby Formosa are now doing well and are smiling "bubbly
babies", according to their mum Angela. Mrs Formosa, from Bexleyheath,
Kent, said: "Between 16 and 20 weeks we found out that they were joined. I
didn't know what to think. I was shocked and I felt sad. "We didn't know
what to expect until they were born. The doctors could not tell where they were
connected."
The girls were born in July, six weeks prematurely. Surgeons would
normally wait until twins are several months old before attempting to separate
them. But the structural abnormality had caused a blockage in their intestine,
which required emergency surgery. Professor Agostino Pierro, who led the team,
told Sky News: "The twins were very small because they were so young. But
they are doing very well." He added: "The babies will need further
treatment in the future but we expect that they will both be able to lead happy
and normal lives."
Mrs Formosa said she was relieved to have the girls back home. "They
are really well. They are putting on weight," she said. "They are
normal bubbly babies who are starting to smile and cry when they want
something." Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world's most
experienced centres for separating conjoined twins. Mrs Formosa said:
"When I was pregnant they were saying that the survival chances were quite
low. "For them to have been operated on and doing so well, it is
amazing."
Yahoo Lifestyle
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