HYDERABAD:A new ray of hope emerged again for Vani and Veena, the 11-year-old craniophagus conjoined twins, as a team of doctors from the United Kingdom came forward to perform surgery and sounded optimistic about separating them successfully.
The doctors pegged the success rate at 80 per cent and said if complications were to arise, they will be while separating blood vessels. They would further examine the case and send a report later, including expenditure to be incurred. The report will be then sent to the state government.
Born on October 15, 2003, Vani and Veena are fused through skull. Though, in the past a few years, experts from India and other countries came forward to examine and perform the surgery, it got stalled because of various reasons.
David Dunaway, head of Craniofacial Unit, and Noor-ul-Owase Jeelani, paediatric neurosurgeon, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, visited Niloufer Hospital in the city, where the twins are being taken care of. After examining the twins and going through their medical records, they spoke at a press conference here on Saturday. Earlier, the doctors successfully performed a similar surgery on conjoint twins from Sudan.
Five stages and six months: Jeelani said that the surgery will be performed in five stages extending over a period of six months to an year. About the complication that might arise during the surgery, he said, “There might be a lot of complications such as blood loss.
They might experience brain injury or damage. Chances for that are low, but not zero. If I were to guess, there are 80 per cent chances for the surgery to be good.’’ Around 50 medical personnel and experts would be needed to perform the surgery.
Father of the twins M Murali, said that his hopes of getting his daughters operated crashed many a times in the past. But said he gave his consent for the surgery to be performed. “We agreed for the surgery to be performed. I believe they will be separated through operation. Rather than suffering, it is better to be operated and get relieved,” Murali said.
Dr K Ramesh Reddy, head of paediatric surgery, Niloufer Hospital, said that they explained the parents about the complications that might arise and that they initiated talks with the doctors from UK a month ago.