PERU: LIMA: SIAMESE TWINS BORN
(10 Feb 2000) Spanish/Nat Siamese twins have been born in the Peruvian capital Lima. The two baby girls share a heart and kidney, and are joined at the thorax. Doctors fear that, due to the severity of their condition, their mother may have to make the heartbreaking choice of which baby shall survive. The twins were born following a caesarian operation in a hospital in the centre of the city. They were born on February 8th, at 08:42 in the morning local time, weighing five kilos and 800 grammes. They are only 46 centimetres high. Due to their delicate condition they were transferred to an intensive care unit in the department of neontology. Their 21 year old mother is said to be extremely upset about the health of her babies and is currently under observation by a team of psychologists. Her husband and family members are reported to be by her bedside. The babies are the third case of siamese twins in the history of Peru. They are said to be in relatively good health despite their condition, but suffered respiratory difficulties once born which required emergency medical attention. However, doctors are concerned. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "The problem is the babies are joined at the thorax and that they share a heart. Also they share a kidney. This creates a cardiac problem. We have to first carry out an emodinamic evaluation to see if separation is possible. In many cases such a heart is quite often badly formed, or sometimes they cannot be separated which will create problems for one of the babies." SUPER CAPTION: Doctor Fernando Ortega Their shared organs mean an operation to split them is highly unlikely, and if they are to survive it is thought they will have to live united for the rest of their lives. However, doctors also warn that the next few weeks are crucial, and should complications arise the baby's parents will have to face the difficult decision of deciding which of the twins will survive. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "In the case of siamese twins, generally the logical decision is that if required the least developed baby has to be sacrificed. It has to be the baby that has the smallest chances of survival. However, it is a very difficult decision to make, and there are many factors to be considered." SUPER CAPTION: Doctor Fernando Ortega The first case of a siamese birth in Peru took place in the seventies. In that case the babies also shared a heart, and the children died soon after birth. The second case was more recent, dating back to October 1999. The two babies in this case shared one anal orifice, one kidney, four testicles, and one penis. Such births happen once in every 2 to 3-thousand births. They are more common with female babies. The reasons behind the condition are unknown, but the situation arises 15 to 20 days after the egg is fertilized. Once fertilized - in the case of twins - they separate. Siamese twins are born when problems arise in the separation of the eggs. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
