Siamese twin separated

JAKARTA (JP): The Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital has successfully separated a Siamese twin.

Sofyan Ismael, head of the operation team, told the press Friday that the operation was conducted in one hour forty minutes and involved the participation of 40 doctors.

The female twins -- children of Misbah and Rodiah from Palmerah, West Jakarta -- are named Rena and Reni, Sofyan was quoted by Antara as saying. They were born through a caesarean operation in the hospital on March 4, he said.

Sofyan said the twins, who were joined at the abdomen and chest, were detected in the mother's eighth month of pregnancy through an ultrasound checkup.

The two babies, born at 4.65 kilograms, weighed 11.4 kilograms on Friday, he said.

Sofyan said the operation to separate the twins was conducted based on an agreement between the hospital and the twin's parents as soon as the children were born. All costs for the operation and their medical treatment were born by the hospital, he said.

"The operation alone, without honors for the doctors, cost about Rp 60 million (US$23,076)," he said.

The operation results showed there was an abnormality in the twins' hearts but the head and lung of each of them were normal.

Sofyan said the hospital's medical team would continue to monitor the twins until they recuperate.

The hospital has managed to separate 10 Siamese twins since 1967. (hhr)