Hyderabad: Conjoined twins Veena and Vani can now look forward to separate, yet healthy lives as Dr David Dunaway and Dr Owase Jeelani neuro-surgeons from the Great Ormond Street hospital in London are very optimistic. The doctors, who examined the girls on Saturday, believe there is an 80 per cent chance of success in the surgery to separate the twins.
Born to farm labourers, the twins, who are 11 years old now, have been living in the Niloufer hospital since 2006. Their parents often visit them at the hospital. Dr K. Ramesh Reddy, professor and head of the department of paediatric surgery at Niloufer Hospital, said, “We had sent our investigation reports to the doctors in London and they had expressed their intention to personally visit and examine the twins. They wanted to discuss the details with the parents and also the officials here. They are positive, but the surgery will be done in London in five stages. The overall duration will be 261 days.”
The investigation reports and also the personal examination details have been sent to their team in Great Ormond Street Hospital. The doctors will produce a status report and submit the same to the government. These doctors had successfully done a similar surgery on one-year-old Sudanese twins.
Dr Dunaway explained, “The five-stage surgery, which would take at least 8 to 12 months, is relatively safe. The twins’ relatives will also have to be there during the course of the surgery. There would be 50 to 100 healthcare workers, including specialists, who would be working on this case. There is a risk involved, but we are confident of achieving good results.”
The twin’s parents, N. Murali and Nagalakshmi, were briefed by the doctors at Niloufer. Mr Murali says, “I am very happy that the doctors are confident of the surgery. I have given my consent and if the girls can be separated successfully, they can come and live with us. We will be a complete family.”
Fact box
Craniopagus conjoined twins Veena and Vani were born on October 15, 2003, in Warangal.
Their initial medical examinations were carried out in the Guntur General Hospital.
In April 2006, they were shifted to Niloufer Hospital and since then, they have been staying there.
The first attempt to separate the twins was made by Dr Ashish Mehta, a neurosurgeon from Breach Candy Hospital.
On January 16, 2008, the girls were shifted to Mumbai. Their treatment was discussed with the Trustees of the hospital, but the lukewarm response and the fear of the outcome only meant that the girls did not undergo the surgery.
Dr Keith Goh, consultant neurosurgeon from East Shore Hospital, Singapore, was invited to examine them. The doctor had also operated on Iranian twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani.
Dr Goh talked about the residual neurological deficit to the doctors. but the parents were not willing to give the consent
The doctors at Niloufer hospital then requested the state to rehabilitate these children. Their parents stated that it was difficult to take care of the girls.
On January 18, 2012, the parents told the government that if there is any development in the field of medicine, the government must bear the medical costs. treatment.
Fresh efforts were then made to try and see if the twins can be separated, and Dr David James Dunaway, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, was contacted.
