Five-month-old South African conjoined twins Danielle and Danika Lowton on Saturday successfully underwent the first phase of a procedure to separate them.
The twins are one of approximately 2,5 million babies worldwide born with conjoined heads, said Dr Henry du Plooy of the Arwyp Hospital, Kempton Park, where the surgery took place.
Du Plooy said a team of anaesthetists, neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons attended the two- to three-hour surgery on Saturday.
A silicon balloon was inserted between the skulls of the twins. ”The balloon will be gradually inflated with saline solution.”
He said this allows for the skin to grow around the attached area, which will later be used on each baby once separation was complete. ”The process of expanding the balloon will only commence 30 to 60 days after insertion,” Du Plooy said.
Doctors project that the completion of the separation will start early in 2007.
”The twins are [attached] facing away from each other and, based on special investigations, do no share any vital organs.
”According to their parents, the girls are developing strong individual personalities and characteristics. They are healthy little girls in all respects and reached all developmental milestones appropriate for their age.”
Occupational and physiotherapists have also treated them on a weekly basis and are reportedly happy with their development.
Du Plooy said the girls have been in the hospital since they were born on June 21. ”They’ve reached a combined weight of 13,1kg and are getting increasingly active in their customised bed.” — Sapa