Report of tests on conjoined twins to be out on Thursday

On Tuesday, all the required tests were completed on the 12-day-old conjoined twins delivered at Sion Hospital on July 27. The reports of these tests are expected on Thursday, based on which the parents, doctors and ethical panel will decide whether or not to go in for a surgery to separate them.

The twins were delivered by caesarean section and weighed 3.6kg at birth. They suffer from a condition known as single-hearted thoraco paraphagus. While they share the same heart and have a partially common thorax (neck), they have two separate stomachs and two spinal cords. Between them, the babies also share two legs and three hands.

Dr Paras Kothari, head of paediatric surgery, Sion Hospital, said, “We are waiting for the test reports that are expected on Thursday, after which we will take a call on separating the babies. We will be presenting our investigations to the ethical committee and take the parents’ consent for the surgery.”

Meanwhile, the babies’ father, Irshad Khan, told The Asian Age, “My wife is against the surgery, but we are waiting for the reports and the doctors’ decision. Yesterday, I took my babies to Bombay Hospital to get some heart tests done. The doctors are treating us well and are preparing us mentally to take a call on the separation surgery. We are in a dilemma. It’s all God’s wish finally.”

Dr Kothari said, “There are neurological complications in the case, with one of the latest tests showing one boy’s brain controlling the left limbs and the other boy’s brain controlling the right limbs. Even if the babies are separated, each will have only one lower limb controlled by their brain. If a proper call isn’t taken, it can prove to be fatal for the babies.”

Experts from various departments such as radiology and plastic surgery have been part of the planning process for this case.