Conjoined twins in critical condition

Conjoined twins in critical condition

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

Born with numerous abnormalities in Bandung, West Java, 10 days
ago, conjoined twins Abdurrahman and Abdurrahim are in a critical
condition ahead of planned surgery to separate them.

In the meantime, the team of doctors handling the twins are
expecting a miracle to return them to their previous state of
health.

Director of the city's Hasan Sadikin public hospital Dr. Nanan
Setiawana said here on Tuesday that Abdurrahman's health had
deteriorated drastically since Sunday after suffering anemia,
systemic infection and leucopenia.

"The medical team has installed a ventilator to help them
breathe because both are also suffering respiratory problems," he
said, adding the twins had also received a blood transfusion.

Abdurrahim, whose heart is on the right side of his chest,
followed suit early on Tuesday.

The twins were born to a poor family in the city on July 11
with separate heads and chests, but fused at the stomach and
without an anus, which forced doctors to stop feeding the babies
two days after their birth.

They have no sex organs, but a scrotum was discovered. The
babies have one navel, and each has complete sense organs, two
hands and two feet.

The medical team successfully created on July 14 an anus for
the three-day-old conjoined twins, born with one buttock.

They estimated that the twins, joined at the stomach, feet and
groin, would have to wait at least six months for separation
surgery.

Dr. Suganda, a member of the medical team, said Abdurrahman's
body had turned blue on Sunday because of an abnormality in his
heart.

"We have transfused blood and administered antibiotics to deal
with the cardiovascular abnormality but the attempt looks as
though it may fail to stabilize his condition.

"We have done our best and will continue to try, but ... the
twins await a miracle to return them to normality. If anything
else happens to them it will be God's will," he said.

The twins' parents said they were resigned to whatever their
children's fate might be, as their existence was really a test of
their belief in God.

"We thank God we have been given such twins because their
birth is truly a test from God. He is testing our faith and we
are sure He will give reward us if we endure the examination,"
said Asep, the twins' father.

He confirmed that the medical team has already informed him of
the babies' critical condition and he trusted it to do the best
for the children.

In 1997, the hospital successfully operated on a baby with
four feet, but last year a pair of twins died at the hospital
before they could be operated on.

Two weeks ago, a pair of Iranian adult twins joined at the
head died of loss of blood after unsuccessful separation surgery
in Singapore.