Doctors say separation is possible for conjoined Oklahoma twins
OKLAHOMA SISTERS ARE CONJOINED AT THE CHEST AND ABDOMEN
BY SUSAN SIMPSON
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Published: November 26, 2008
boldStevie Stewart of Calumet looks over her conjoined twins. PHOTO PROVIDED BY OU MEDICAL CENTER
Doctors hope to surgically separate conjoined twins born Oct. 25 at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center.
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AT A GLANCE
Conjoined twins
• Conjoined twins occur once every 200,000 live births, and 40 percent to 60 percent arrive stillborn. Only about 35 percent survive one day and the overall survival rate is 5 percent to 25 percent.
• Female siblings seem to have a better shot at survival.
• Conjoined twins are genetically identical and formed from a single egg that does not separate after fertilization.
• There are nearly a dozen different types of conjoined twins. One of the most common classifications is thoracopagus twins. These twins are connected at the upper portion of the torso.
• Thoracopagus twins share a heart, which, depending on how closely they are joined, makes it difficult to separate them and save them both.
Source: University of Maryland Medical Center
Preslee
Faith Wells and
Kylee Hope Wells are connected at the chest and abdomen, and remain in critical condition.
They are the first conjoined twins born in
Oklahoma in 22 years.
Doctors believe Preslee and Kylee have separate but joined hearts, livers and rib cages. If they don’t share any important blood vessels around their hearts, a separation "would be fairly straightforward,” said
Dr. David Tuggle, a pediatric surgeon who would lead a team of physicians in the separation procedure.
Tuggle said the babies, who weigh less than 5 pounds together, need to get bigger and stronger before any surgery. But an emergency operation could take place if their condition worsens.
The twins breathe through oxygen tubes but are able to eat orally, Tuggle said. He said it would be good for the surgery to occur before the twins are 8 to 9 months old, to help psychological development.
The twins’ mother,
Stevie Stewart, said they sometimes hold each other and have different personalities, one more outgoing and one more laid back.
"I can’t wait to take them home,” said Stewart, 20, of Calumet.
The twins’ father,
Kyle Wells, works full time but also has been able to spend a lot of time with the girls.
"He’s wrapped around their fingers,” Stewart said.
Stewart’s mother,
Marla Longbrake, said the mother and father have shown remarkable strength since learning the twins were conjoined 20 weeks into the pregnancy. The sisters were born by Ceasarean section at 34 weeks.
"They didn’t question it,” Longbrake said. "We had to pray to have the faith that they had.”
Wells’ mother,
Vickie Laub, said the twins are "the most perfect babies. They are miracle babies.”
Tuggle, the doctor, said the twins are believed to be the first known American Indian conjoined twins. Stewart is a member of the
Cheyenne River Sioux.
A fund to help the family has been set up at MidFirst bank branches in the twins’ names.
If they don’t share any important blood vessels around their hearts, a separation "would be fairly straightforward.”
Dr. David Tuggle
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