NEW YORK CITY, NY (November 3, 2003) Two tissue expanders that had been inserted under the skin covering the heads of conjoined Filipino twins Clarence and Carl Aguirre were temporarily removed today in a 45-minute procedure by surgeons at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM).

The soft-tissue expanders, surgically inserted at CHAM on October 20, are used to stretch existing skin and encourage the growth of new skin that will be needed to cover the boys’ skulls after a series of procedures that ultimately will separate them.

"We decided to remove the expanders temporarily due to a slight infection," said David Staffenberg, MD, Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, CHAM. "This will not impact our long-term plans."

"While the second craniotomy remains tentatively scheduled for later this month, we’ve said all along that the actual schedule will be determined by how Carl and Clarence are doing, " said James T. Goodrich, MD, Director, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, CHAM, and the boys’ medical team leader.

The boys and their mother are expected to return to Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY, later this evening where they will continue their physical and nutrition therapy.

© 2012 Montefiore Medical Center