Filipino conjoined twins survive third surgery
Doctor: More operations needed before separation try
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Twins from the Philippines joined at the tops of their heads survived their third major operation Friday, the riskiest yet in the long process of giving them separate lives.
After a nine-hour operation, 22-month-old Carl and Clarence Aguirre were wheeled to the pediatric critical care unit to begin adjusting to rerouted circulation systems, said Pamela Adkins, spokeswoman for Montefiore Medical Center.
No detailed comment on the results of the surgery was expected before a news conference Saturday.
One of the surgeons, Dr. David Staffenberg, said at least one more operation would be necessary before the twins can be separated.
A 16-person medical team cut into the twins' fused skulls and divided most of the remaining blood vessels, including at least one of the two major veins that were still connected to both boys' circulation systems, the hospital said.
Dr. James Goodrich, chief of pediatric neurosurgery, said in advance that Clarence, who was born with a better-developed system of veins, would likely get to keep the bulk of the existing system. For Carl, the blood flow would be directed into other existing veins.
The twins and their mother have been in New York since September. The medical team is donating its services.
The boys are learning some of the motor skills they will need when they are separated. Because they are joined at the tops of their heads, they have never walked, stood or even sat up, though they have begun crawling on hands and knees.
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