A 10-hour operation to separate conjoined twins Danielle and Danika Lowton is currently under way at the Arwyp Medical Centre Private Hospital in Kempton Park, spokesperson Henry du Plooy confirmed on Friday.
The twins were born at the hospital on June 21 2006.
Only four operations of this nature, namely the separation of conjoined twins, have ever been carried out in South Africa and the Arwyp Medical Centre will be the first private hospital to perform such an operation in South Africa, Du Plooy said.
The hospital’s communications manager, Olga Tyson, told the South African Press Association after the operation had begun that it was ”so far so good”.
The hospital said earlier in a statement that the specialised tests done in preparation for the separation procedure revealed that there seemed to be no vital organs or major vessels shared and due to the fact that the babies manifested no complications, the hospital and staff were encouraged that the separation procedure would be a success.
The hospital explained that it had secured all resources necessary for the procedure and all precautionary measures had been taken.
”The welfare of the babies is our primary concern and we have done all we can to ensure that the best possible treatment and care is available to them,” the statement added.
”Danielle and Danika’s parents have requested everyone’s prayers for the success of the operation.” — Sapa