Second phase surgery of conjoined twins underway at AIIMS

The second phase of a marathon surgery to separate 28-month-old twins -- Jaga and Kalia from Odisha -- joined at the heads, is underway at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital.

A team of about 30 specialists from the institute's neurosurgery, neuro-anaesthesia and plastic surgery departments are performing the operation.

"No experts from abroad are involved in the procedure. The twins were shifted to the operation theatre at 6 am. The surgery began at 9 am and is expected to last for over 22 hours," a senior doctor at the AIIMS said.

The twins, hailing from Milipada village under Phiringia block in Kandhamal district in Odisha, are craniopagus conjoined twins, who are joined at the heads. This is a very rare condition, the doctor said.
 

The first phase of the surgery was performed on August 28 when the doctors created venous bypass to separate the veins shared by the babies that returns blood to the heart from the brain.

"We had suggested to the AIIMS authorities to engage experts from across the world in the operation process, if needed. The Odisha government is ready to bear the expenses of the foreign doctors. We hope things will go well with the blessings of Lord Jagannath," Odisha's Health and Family Welfare minister Pratap Jena said.

Bhuyan Kanhar, father of the twins said, "The surgery is being done as the condition of Jaga deteriorated."

The conjoined twins were admitted in the AIIMS on July 13.

The Odisha government has sanctioned Rs one crore from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) for the treatment of the twins.

Dr A K Mahapatra, chief of the neurosciences centre earlier had said the twins suffer from the condition which afflicts one in 30 lakh children, of which 50 per cent die either at birth or within 24 hours.

The surgery is feasible only on 25 per cent of the survivors while the rest continue to live with the condition.

"Also, there is less than a 20 per cent chance of survival among those who undergo this surgery. Such operations are extremely challenging," he had said.