Separated twins to be discharged next week

CEO of Batra Hospital and Research Centre Dr Sanjeev Bagai said the twins, who are recuperating there after their day-long surgery, will be discharged next week. “The twins have almost recovered and are fit to go back home and will be discharged sometime early next week,” he said.

Daughters of daily wagers, Sita and Gita hail from Bhawanipur Kushwaha village in Bihar’s East Champaran district.

They were born fused, had common intestinal and urinary tracts. Parts of their pelvises, spines, hipbones and legs were also fused.

The 14-hour long surgery involved separating their spines and pelvises as also the intestines followed by splitting of the common anal canal (fecal tract). The anal openings, the vaginal openings and the urinary tracts were then reconstructed and skin defects closed using constructed skin flaps.

“We have tied up with a private hospital in Patna where these children can undergo free treatment if they have any problems,” a doctor with the hospital said. A team of 27 specialists including paediatric surgeons, critical care specialists, orthopaedics and plastic surgeons were involved in conducting the surgery.

Surgeries to separate conjoined twins have been few and far between. Very few cases have been successfully operated upon worldwide and the number of such surgeries performed in India is almost negligible.

“For the twins the past one-month has been one of healing and recovery. Apart from the urinary and fecal tracts the skin defects also seem to have healed completely,” Dr Bagai said.