Marathon surgery on Odisha's craniopagus twins on at AIIMS

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Oct 25 (IANS) The second phase of a marathon surgery for separation of two-year-old craniopagus twins -- joined at the head - is underway at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), hospital authorities said on Wednesday.

A team of 30 doctors from various departments including neuro surgery, neuro-anesthesia and pediatrics are part of the second phase of the surgery during which the final separation of the twins -- Jaga and Kalia -- will be done. 

The second phase had to be done before the scheduled time as the health of Jaga deteoriated. 

"The twins were taken to the operation theatre at 6 a.m. today. The surgery began at 9 a.m. and is expected to last for over 22 hours," said a senior doctor from AIIMS, who is part of the medical team treating the twins. 

The two-and-a-half year-old craniopagus twins, or fused at the cranium, were brought to AIIMS on July 14, from Milipada village in Kandhamal district of Odisha. 

The first phase of the surgery was done on August 28, which included experts from Japan as well. 

As part of the first phase a new bypass technique was used for the first time on the twins conjoined at the head. 

Ahead of the surgery, the twins had to undergo numerous tests.

While conjoined twins are known to occur in about every 2,00,000 births, craniopagus twins are rarer still, accounting for about only two per cent.

The Odisha government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the surgery at AIIMS.

Earlier, the twins had undergone medical check up at at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Speaking on the issue, Odisha health department had suggested that AIIMS authorities engage experts from abroad in the operation, if needed. 

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

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