Separated twins still causing concern

Source: Xinhua  |   2009-4-9  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

CONJOINED twin sisters separated a week ago were still in intensive care yesterday at a hospital in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.

"Both twins are suffering from septicemia and severe pneumonia, which could cause infections and breathing difficulties at any time," said Gao Xirong of Hunan Children's Hospital.

She said the twins were still too weak to drink milk and were being fed intravenously.

The girls were connected from their breastbones to their abdomens and shared one liver when they were born on March 16 in Xinhua County.

The operation to separate them was the hospital's first such surgery.

Gao said the twins were separated on April 1 and both could breathe without the help of respirators as of Monday.

But she said that if they developed infections and breathing problems, respirators might have to be used.