It’s a medical feat. This Tuesday, June 6, 2017, surgeons from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (in the United States) managed to separate two Siamese sisters. Born in the state of North Carolina, Abby and Erin Delaney were connected by the top of the head. Today, the two twins (10 months old and born by cesarean section in July 2016) will finally be able to meet, face to face …
The spectacular operation took place over 11 hours: in total, around thirty doctors, surgeons and nurses were mobilized. The specialists split into two teams in order to take care of the two little girls at the same time.
“During the operation, the first team meticulously separated the blood vessels and the dura (the layer of meninges that covers the inner wall of the skull). This tough membrane enveloped the brains of both children, describes neurosurgeon Dr. Gregory Heuer. We then divided the sagittal sinus (a venous sinus), which is the most difficult part of the operation ”.
Siamese children: around 1 in 200,000 births
The two craniopagus girls (this is the term used when children are head Siamese) had been waiting for their operation since February 2017. “Separating Siamese babies is a very complex operation which requires special monitoring and which involves a long period of time. recovery period, says Dr. Jesse Taylor, who participated in the procedure. However, in the case of Abby and Erin Delaney, we are very optimistic. “
About one in 200,000 pregnancies results in the birth of twin and Siamese children: in 2% of cases babies are connected by the head – so this is a very rare situation. While waiting to be able to return home (at the end of 2017, according to the doctors), the two twins finally separated will remain in intensive care at the hospital of Philadephie, where 22 separations of Siamese children have already taken place. .
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