Conjoined Nigerian twins to live independently after Indian surgery

After six months of being attached to each other, conjoined Nigerian twins identified as James and John can now live independently.

The twin underwent a complex but successful operation at Narayana Health Hospital in Bangalore, India.

Twenty-two specialists were said to have been involved in the operation which separated the children who shared just one liver.

During the surgery, specialists were able to divide their liver into two pieces, allowing both children to keep part of the vital organ – which can grow back on its own.

Sanjay Rao, senior consultant at the hospital, said the surgery was carried out using specialists in various fields, with the aim of letting the babies live normal lives thereafter.

“The goal of surgery is to achieve a safe separation and to have two normal children with no morbidity and disability,” he said.

“The operation was successfully done by an interdisciplinary team consisting of six surgeons, six anesthetists, four anesthetic technicians, six nurses amongst others.”

The infants, who already defied medical expectations by surviving for so long, were classed as omphalopagus twins due to where they were attached.

Conjoined twins, who arise from a single embryo, strike just one in every 100,000 births, according to medical literature.