 |
New York City, New York (July 26, 2004) – Surgeons at The Children’s Hospital At Montefiore (CHAM) have set the date for the fourth, and possibly final, surgery in the separation process for conjoined Filipino twins, Carl and Clarence Aguirre. The procedure will take place on Wednesday, August 4th, 2004.
According to lead surgeons James Goodrich, MD, chief of pediatric neurosurgery, and David Staffenberg, chief of pediatric plastic surgery at CHAM, if all goes according to plans, they will be able to separate the boys, who are joined at the tops of their heads.
“The upcoming surgery will be the most complex for the twins,” said Dr. Goodrich. “The separation will have to be carefully monitored for any significant brain swelling and insufficient brain blood circulation. While we are confident that Carl and Clarence are ready for the final stage, we are also prepared to hold back if it should become apparent during the surgery that they are not able to tolerate a complete separation at this time,” he said.
The CHAM surgeons planned the separation procedure in a series of staged operations so as to build up a very weak system of veins in Carl Aguirre’s brain. Brother Clarence already had a fully developed venous system. According to the surgeons, one major vein remains to be separated along with several minor ones.
“We’ve been setting the stage very carefully for their separation over the past months,” said Dr. Staffenberg. “While some very important work has been done to maximize Carl and Clarence’s health and brain circulation, their separation remains complicated and the risks are tremendous. We must remember that our team, and the boy’s mother, Arlene, accepted these risks at the outset, knowing that the pay-off can be two independent, neurologically intact baby boys,” Dr Staffenberg said.
The twins and their mother arrived in the United State this past September. The boys have undergone three major operations at CHAM in the staged series of surgeries and have had tissue expanders inserted under the skin above their left ears to increase the volume of skin to cover their skulls once they are separated.
The boys have been staying at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, Westchester County, for therapy in between their surgeries. Since they first arrived in Westchester the boys have gained 10 pounds and now weigh 39 pounds and have grown by seven inches to 61 inches toe to toe.
For the News Media
Contact our public relations staff.
Our Public Relations team is informed, connected and responsive. We are at your service, on call 24/7, and we will work hard to help you in any way we can – whether by tracking down sources for your stories or arranging video shoots, or getting an expert to help you in your background research.
Call us at 718.920.4011, or click here to view our Office of Public Relations contacts.
Adolescent Medicine
Adolescents are not "small adults". We specialize in treating their unique medical and developmental challenges for congenital heart disease, obesity, menstrual problems, sleep disorders, cancer, pain management, substance abuse, depression and asthma.
