Twins are stable, but brain functions to be monitored
In major neurosurgeries like this one, the physiology of the brain changes drastically. The brains of the twins were dependent on each other and now that they have been separated, they would have to learn to live with it
DR GIRIJA RATH, Professor of neuroanaesthesia at AIIMS
NEW DELHI: The twins from Odisha conjoined at the head have safely come out of the effects of anaesthesia after the 16-hour separation surgery on Thursday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
“Both the babies are stable and safely out of anaesthesia. There has been no deterioration in their condition. However, we have to look for progress,” said Dr Girija Rath, professor of neuroanaesthesia at AIIMS.
They are critical but stable and are being constantly monitored by a team of doctors.
A team of 40 doctors from 12 different super specialities operated on the twins, Jagganath and Balram Kanhar, who were joined at their head at a 180 degree angle.
This was India’s first separation surgery on craniopagus twins or twins joined at the head.
“Their chances of survival are 10-15%, which is the same as the global average,” said Dr AK Mahapatra, chief of the Neurosciences Centre at AIIMS.
The neurosurgeons say that the real challenge will be for their brains to function independently of one another.
“In major neurosurgeries like this one, the physiology of the brain changes drastically. The brains of the twins were dependent on each other and now that they have been separated. They would have to learn to live with it,” said Dr Rath.
The doctors will be able to tell whether the babies face any neurological deficits once they are fully awake.
“The next 18 days would be critical,” said Dr SS Kale, professor of neurosurgery at AIIMS.
Thursday’s surgery, in which the brain has been separated and their skulls covered with skin flaps, is the second procedure the Kanhar twins have undergone. On August 28, a vein graft was inserted into their brain.
Doctors have said that a third surgery to graft their skull bones and cover the exposed brain will be attempted in a couple of years.
Till now, only 59 craniopagus surgeries have been performed worldwide.
Separation surgeries for two other sets of craniopagus twins – Vani and Veena from Hyderabad and Saba and Farah from Patna – were planned in India in the past, but they were not operated on because the risks were too high.