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CNN Sunday Morning
Surgery to Separate Iranian Conjoined Twins Under Way
Aired July 06, 2003 - 07:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Two Iranian sisters joined at the head since birth have spent their 29 years sharing one life and one dream, to someday lead separate lives. They're now on the irreversible journey.
About 10 hours ago they were wheeled into a grueling marathon surgery that could take days. It could also cost the life of one or perhaps even both. Dozens of medical personnel will take part in the separation procedure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. BENJAMIN CARSON, U.S. SURGEON: There are going to be multiple crucial points because every point of the operation is really very vital. In the beginning, when us as surgeons divide the scalp flaps, that is crucial in terms of being able to reconstruct at the end. If the flaps breakdown, then everything we did would be in vain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The intricacy of the surgery maybe surpassed only by its dangers. Neurosurgeon and CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta describes the unprecedented procedure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): When the 29-year-old Bijani sisters, who are conjoined at the head undergo an operation to be separated, it will be a medical first.
LALAH BIJANI, CONJOINED TWIN: We are very excited to go to surgery. We hope the surgery will successful.
GUPTA: Sure, everyone remembers the two Marias from Guatemala who were successfully separated last year. But they were babies. In fact, the doctors say all of the previous operations of this type have been done on children. Adults are decidedly more difficult.
DR. BENJAMINE CARSON, NEUROSURGEON: You don't have the plasticity. You know, with children, they have the ability to reroute neuro-connections. So, they have a great deal more recuperative power. The adults will not have that.
GUPTA: Modern technology, like this three-dimensional imaging, helps make the operation a possibility. These are actual images of the Bijani sisters. As they rotate, they first give a sense of the skull. It is clear the twins are connected near the back of their heads. Further rotation reveals that while the brains are touching, they are in fact separate. Each brain can be seen individually in its entirety.
The major stumbling block becomes clear. There is one large vein where there should be two. The most challenging part of the operation will take place here, creating a second brain for the other brain.
Even in the best of hands, with this technology, the stakes are high for these two intelligent, otherwise healthy women. Doctors consider this an elective operation because the Bijanis would likely live a normal lifespan without the operation.
But of course it is not a normal lifespan they want, they want a normal life.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And the sisters each have about a 50 percent chance of survival.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 6, 2003 - 07:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Two Iranian sisters joined at the head since birth have spent their 29 years sharing one life and one dream, to someday lead separate lives. They're now on the irreversible journey.
About 10 hours ago they were wheeled into a grueling marathon surgery that could take days. It could also cost the life of one or perhaps even both. Dozens of medical personnel will take part in the separation procedure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. BENJAMIN CARSON, U.S. SURGEON: There are going to be multiple crucial points because every point of the operation is really very vital. In the beginning, when us as surgeons divide the scalp flaps, that is crucial in terms of being able to reconstruct at the end. If the flaps breakdown, then everything we did would be in vain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The intricacy of the surgery maybe surpassed only by its dangers. Neurosurgeon and CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta describes the unprecedented procedure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): When the 29-year-old Bijani sisters, who are conjoined at the head undergo an operation to be separated, it will be a medical first.
LALAH BIJANI, CONJOINED TWIN: We are very excited to go to surgery. We hope the surgery will successful.
GUPTA: Sure, everyone remembers the two Marias from Guatemala who were successfully separated last year. But they were babies. In fact, the doctors say all of the previous operations of this type have been done on children. Adults are decidedly more difficult.
DR. BENJAMINE CARSON, NEUROSURGEON: You don't have the plasticity. You know, with children, they have the ability to reroute neuro-connections. So, they have a great deal more recuperative power. The adults will not have that.
GUPTA: Modern technology, like this three-dimensional imaging, helps make the operation a possibility. These are actual images of the Bijani sisters. As they rotate, they first give a sense of the skull. It is clear the twins are connected near the back of their heads. Further rotation reveals that while the brains are touching, they are in fact separate. Each brain can be seen individually in its entirety.
The major stumbling block becomes clear. There is one large vein where there should be two. The most challenging part of the operation will take place here, creating a second brain for the other brain.
Even in the best of hands, with this technology, the stakes are high for these two intelligent, otherwise healthy women. Doctors consider this an elective operation because the Bijanis would likely live a normal lifespan without the operation.
But of course it is not a normal lifespan they want, they want a normal life.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And the sisters each have about a 50 percent chance of survival.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
