Conjoined Twin Girls, Joined At The Chest, Are Successfully Separated by Surgeons

Affectionately often called Addy and Lily, the twins spent almost a yr within the intensive care unit on the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after they have been born conjoined on the stomach and chest as a consequence of a uncommon situation often called thoraco-omphalopagus.

The ladies had shared a liver, diaphragm, chest and belly wall.

Their mother and father Maggie and Dom Altobelli had assumed they have been having one child till their 20-week ultrasound that had detected the situation and confirmed two fetuses hooked up on the stomach.

The couple was then referred to CHOP for additional analysis and after additional testing, medical doctors had decided the ladies could be wonderful candidates for separation as each twins had their very own functioning hearts and a large shared liver.

Addison and Lilianna have been born on November 18, 2020 and spent 10 months after their delivery within the intensive care unit at CHOP as surgeons ready for the perfect strategy at separating the twins.

Then October 13, 2021, a surgical staff involving greater than two dozen specialists – which included surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, a cardiothoracic surgeon, and plastic surgeons – spent roughly 10 hours in surgical procedure separating the ladies.

“To see them with their own bodies – their bodies were just so perfect – it was amazing,” Maggie gushed after the process. “It was just indescribable.”

The twins lastly flew dwelling to Chicago after spending two extra weeks at Lurie Children’s Hospital. Although each ladies are nonetheless assisted by tracheostomy tubes to assist with their respiration, medical doctors say Addy and Lily will finally regulate to respiration on their very own.

Since 1957, CHOP has separated 28 pairs of conjoined twins, probably the most of any hospital within the nation.

Lead Surgeon Holly L. Hendrick, an attending pediatric and fetal surgeon within the Division of the Pediatric General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery at CHOP, stated “Separating conjoined twins is always a challenge because every single set of twins is unique, and they all have different challenges and anatomic considerations.”

“The way our team works together, it’s really incredible and special, with so many people coming together to work toward a common goal,” she concluded. “Addy and Lily are doing well, and our hope is that they have full lives that are joyful.”