Separated twins 'are out of danger' - surgeon

Singapore doctors who separated two 15-month-old Indonesian twin girls born fused at the stomach and hips have said they were out of danger just four days after the surgery, and will be ready to go home in six weeks.

The girls’ father, meanwhile, said he was worried that he may be unable to pay for their future medical expenses.

“They are already grabbing toys, holding hands,” Dr. Tan Kai Chah, the lead surgeon in the operation, told reporters. “They will be taken out of the intensive care unit by the end of the week or early next week.”

Anggi and Anjeli were separated at Singapore’s Gleneagles Hospital on Saturday in a marathon 10-hour surgery involving 16 doctors.

The formerly conjoined twins had only three legs. After the surgery they have one leg each, and will later be fitted with artificial limbs.

A member of the surgical team, Kenny Ee, said the main worry now was possible infection of the surgical wounds. The girls are being kept in separate rooms, both scattered with toys.

Today, their father Sobari was feeding Anggi and their mother, Neng Armaini, was caring for Anjeli when reporters were allowed to visit.

The operation was especially risky for Anjeli, who has a hole in her heart. It was not immediately clear what kind of medical treatment they would continue to require, or how much it might cost.

“My main concern is future medical treatment. With the current job I have now, I cannot support the girls,” said Sobari, a cake seller from a village near Medan city on Sumatra island. The separation surgery was paid for by Medan businessman Olo Panggabean.

Conjoined twins occur about once in every 150,000 to 200,000 live births.

Up to 60% of conjoined twins are stillborn, and 35% survive 24 hours or less. Those who survive longer are often plagued by medical complications because they share organs and vital systems.