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Sept. 15, 2003, New York City, NY -- James T. Goodrich, M.D., Ph.D., and David Staffenberg, M.D., two of the world’s premier specialists in pediatric neurosurgery and craniofacial (plastic) surgery, have been asked to perform separation surgery on Clarence and Carl Aguirre, 18-month old conjoined twins, who arrived in New York City from the Philippines on September 10.
The separation surgery will likely take place in several stages over the next several months, once the twins have acclimatized to their new surroundings and additional tests and detailed examinations have been conducted.
Dr. Willy Lopez, a pediatric neurosurgeon who was caring for the twins in Manila, brought the medical needs of the twins to Dr. Goodrich's attention as he has done in previous cases. Montefiore has agreed to take this extremely difficult case on a pro-bono basis.
Montefiore’s elite staff of highly-specialized and skilled practitioners, its state-of-the-art Children’s Hospital facility, and its technically advanced imaging, diagnostic, treatment, and healthcare management systems make it one of the few facilities in the world that can provide the commitment, talent, care and expertise a procedure of this magnitude requires.
The twins are currently staying at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York, where they are receiving much-needed nutritional support. As soon as they adapt to their surroundings and their physical and nutritional health improves, they will be moved to The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, where they will undergo a series of surgeries over a period of several weeks, culminating in the separation surgery, which is expected to take place in late-October.
A non-profit group, Knightsbridge International organized efforts to bring the boys to New York. The Aguirre twins are crainiopagus twins – which means they are joined at the top of their heads. Only 2 percent of conjoined twins share this condition.
Please continue to check with us here at MonteKids.org, the website for The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, for updates and new information on the twins as it becomes available.
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Director, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery,
CHAM
We're known around the world for successfully separating Carl and Clarence Aguirre, born joined at the tops of their heads. Our specialists care daily for children with brain tumors, spinal cord injuries and craniofacial deformities.
