Path-breaking surgery by Apollo Hospitals on 16th December, Are you with us...

                       History is going to be created in the Indian Medical World.

When à16^th December
Where à Apollo Children’s Hospital , Vanagaram, Chennai.
Why à For the first time in India surgical separation of Male Pygopagus twins will happen.
               A unique and challenging aspect of the separation is the fused phallus, which has to be
               delicately separated to give each baby a functional penis.

Medical Understanding  à

The term Pygopagus means fixed at the buttocks. Conjoined twins are rarely encountered. Although seen in one in 200,000 deliveries more than 60% are stillborn. Of the remaining, 35% die within a few days or months of birth due to various causes. Conjoined twins can be joined at the chest, abdomen, back, buttock and head. Fusion at the buttocks (Pygopagus) is very rare and accounts for
less than 17% of all conjoined twins. Live born pygopagus twins are usually female in sex. Male pygopagus twins are very rare. Till now in medical literature only 30 sets of pygopagus twins have been reported. Of these 26 were female and only four were male.

Let’s hear the story of these rare twins à

A baby is one of life's most precious gifts that brings happiness, hope and meaning to life! And, the birth of twins would only bring twice the happiness and the celebrations. However, for one family, their joy soon turned into sadness as their twins were born conjoined, a rare condition that occurs every 200,000 births.
This is the story of two identical ‘pygopagus twins’,Ericana and Eludi from Africa. The mother hails from a small village called ‘Kasumulu’ in Tanzania. She went for delivery to the dispensary in her village from where she was shifted to the District Hospital because she had undergone a previous caesarean section.  At the district hospital a  ‘C ‘section was done but to the doctors' surprise there was enormous difficulty in delivering the babies out of the uterus as they were joined at the back. The mother was told that separation of the babies was fraught with risk and she was sent to the Mohimbili Hospital in the capital Dares Salaam by ambulance. It took three days to make this journey with the newborns. At Mohimbili the doctors contacted the health officials for advice regarding further action.

Apollo Hospitals Chennai is closely associated with the Tanzanian government by the Save a Childs Heart Initiative (SACHI). The babies were therefore shifted to Apollo Children’s Hospital in Chennai at four and a half months of age. After extensive work up it was found that the babies were joined at the tail end of the spines and shared a single anus and rectum. They were also found to have a single phallus and urinary passage.

Preparation of the Big Day à

The Big day is 16^th December when separation of these babies is planned. It’s a mammoth task, which will take around 14 – 16 hours. A team of 20 doctors from the specialties of neurosurgery, plastic surgery, paediatric surgery and paediatric urology will attempt the separation. The services of Dr.Edward Kiely – Paediatric Surgeon and Dr.Richard Howard – Anaesthesiologist, both from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London have been sought to guide and help in the safe separation.
The babies are now 9 months old and weigh 16 kgs. During the last five months tissue expanders have been placed in the back, buttocks and thighs so that skin flaps can be rotated to cover the large defects, which will be left after separation.The nurses looking after the babies have been showering love and affection on the babies who have been nicknamed ‘Ammukutty’ and ‘Chellakutty’.
The babies can say ‘Thatha’ and ‘Athai’ and the mother has picked up a smattering of Tamil as well.

Apollo touching lives in many ways à

Apollo is bringing together different nations through it’s “Save A Child Heart Initiative” and one of its live example is the pygopagus twins from Africa.
Saving A Child's Heart initiative (SACHi) is one of Asia's largest voluntary organizations, dedicated to paediatric cardiac care and child heart surgery for the underprivileged. In order to combat the escalating problem of congenital cardiac issues in children, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Group of Hospitals established the Children's Cardiac Wing in the hospitals.
Established in 2003, SACHi aims to provide early diagnosis, treatment, surgery, post-operative care and financial support to children from economically weak sections of society. SACHi has till date touched 50,000 lives. Its main goal is that every child irrespective of community or background, is provided cutting edge treatment and operative care.

Prayers for the twins & salute to the great step by Apollo hospitalsà

On 16th December The whole world will be praying for a successful surgery and a new life for the twins. We heartily appreciate the efforts and dedication put in by the complete Apollo Staff.
Apollo Hospitals are very confident that the separation of the babies will proceed uneventfully.
Lets support and be with them at every stage of this legendary step.

                             Mother with her Pygopagus twins