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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Conjoined twins 'returning home' | Conjoined twins 'returning home' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Conjoined twin boys, who were born in London in December, have gone back to the family's home in Cork, Ireland. | Conjoined twin boys, who were born in London in December, have gone back to the family's home in Cork, Ireland. |
| Hassan and Hussein are "feeding well", according to their parents, Angie and Azzedine Benhaffaf. | Hassan and Hussein are "feeding well", according to their parents, Angie and Azzedine Benhaffaf. |
| The babies were born at University College Hospital, and are now cared for by Cork University Maternity Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. | The babies were born at University College Hospital, and are now cared for by Cork University Maternity Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. |
| The twins will return to Great Ormond Street later in the year to see if they can be separated. | The twins will return to Great Ormond Street later in the year to see if they can be separated. |
| A spokesperson for Cork University Maternity Hospital: "Both boys are medically very well, taking their feeds and gaining weight." | A spokesperson for Cork University Maternity Hospital: "Both boys are medically very well, taking their feeds and gaining weight." |
| Survival rate | |
| Mr Edward Kiely, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital said: "The surgical team here is the most experienced in Europe at assessing and if necessary separating conjoined twins." | Mr Edward Kiely, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital said: "The surgical team here is the most experienced in Europe at assessing and if necessary separating conjoined twins." |
| CONJOINED TWINS Conjoined twins are extremely rare, occurring in as few as one in every 200,000 live birthsThey are created just a few days after conception - most likely by the incomplete splitting of the fertilised eggMost are stillborn, and a proportion of those who are born alive do not survive long afterwards | CONJOINED TWINS Conjoined twins are extremely rare, occurring in as few as one in every 200,000 live birthsThey are created just a few days after conception - most likely by the incomplete splitting of the fertilised eggMost are stillborn, and a proportion of those who are born alive do not survive long afterwards |
| It has not been revealed exactly how the twins are joined and whether they share organs. | It has not been revealed exactly how the twins are joined and whether they share organs. |
| "The prospects for conjoined twins vary widely depending on their general state of health, how they are joined and what organs are shared." said Mr Kiely | "The prospects for conjoined twins vary widely depending on their general state of health, how they are joined and what organs are shared." said Mr Kiely |
| The survival rate at Great Ormond Street Hospital in a planned separation operation where twins are stable, is around 80 per cent. | The survival rate at Great Ormond Street Hospital in a planned separation operation where twins are stable, is around 80 per cent. |
| "Under these circumstances both usually survive and have a good quality of life." he added | "Under these circumstances both usually survive and have a good quality of life." he added |
| But survival rates are much lower, in the region of 20 - 25 percent, where one child is dead or dying and where separation is undertaken to try and save at least one baby. | But survival rates are much lower, in the region of 20 - 25 percent, where one child is dead or dying and where separation is undertaken to try and save at least one baby. |
| And some cases are inoperable, including those joined at the heart. | And some cases are inoperable, including those joined at the heart. |
| Rare operation | Rare operation |
| Great Ormond Street is the most experienced centre in Europe for separating conjoined twins. | Great Ormond Street is the most experienced centre in Europe for separating conjoined twins. |
| The team have previously dealt with 21 separations, and nine inoperable cases. | The team have previously dealt with 21 separations, and nine inoperable cases. |
| The last case in Britain was in July 2009. | The last case in Britain was in July 2009. |
| One of Lisa Chamberlain's twins, Joshua, was born stillborn. | One of Lisa Chamberlain's twins, Joshua, was born stillborn. |
| The other twin, Jayden, died within an hour of being born. | The other twin, Jayden, died within an hour of being born. |
| In December 2008 Faith and Hope Williams were separated at Great Ormond Street Hospital. | In December 2008 Faith and Hope Williams were separated at Great Ormond Street Hospital. |
| Hope died the following day, and Faith died 23 days later. | Hope died the following day, and Faith died 23 days later. |