Conjoined twins Veena and Vani get fresh hope of separation

Twelve-year old conjoined twins Veena and Vani may now have new hope to lead separate lives. Veena and Vani were born with their heads fused on October 15, 2003 in Telangana's Warangal district.

Dr David Dunway, head of Craniofacial Unit and Dr Noor Ul Owase Jeelani, paediatric neurosurgeon from Great Ormond Street Hospital, United Kingdom have now reportedly agreed to treat the girls. The two doctors have successfully separated two other co-joined pairs in the past and have said that Veena and Vani would have a 75% chance to lead normal lives after surgery. 

The doctors have met the children and are thinking of conducting a number of simpler surgeries instead of a single surgery.

However, there are several complications in the case. Though the girls have two different brains, they have a common artery that pumps blood to their brain. The dural sinus artery which they both share, can be restructured only for one. A fresh support system has to be created for the other twin.

The surgery will cost between Rs 15 crore to Rs 10 crore and the Telangana government has agreed to pay for the surgeries in principle, but is yet to give an official clearance. 

After they were born, the twins were initially taken to Guntur General Hospital from where they were shifted to the government-run Niloufer Hospital here, where they had been confined to a room since April 2006.