KATH doctors investigate deaths of conjoined twins

Doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital are due to begin investigations to establish the cause of death of the conjoined twins after their separation.

The twins who had been in critical condition, died within hours of each other, less than a day after an 11-hour complex but successful operation was done.

Though doctors rule out the surgery as the cause of death, they are still baffled at what could have caused the condition of the babies to deteriorate so quickly.

The babies, named Gift and It’s Well, had been on life support after the 11 hour surgery by 17 doctors and five nurses.

Head of Pediatric Surgery at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Boateng Nimako, told Nhyira News the findings of the investigation can serve as a guide in subsequent cases.

“I cannot say exactly whatever is the actual cause of the death of the babies. That is one thing we cannot put our finger on for now. We still need to investigate further, do postmortem to see whatever went wrong," Dr. Boateng explained.

Nhyira News sources indicate the postmortem could be done on Friday with the approval of the parents.

It was all joy as the father met for the first time after his once conjoined twins had been separated, each on a bed at the intensive care unit (ICU).

Daniel Ohene-Asante, already blessed with children, a five-year-old girl and three-year-old boy, could not hide his joy.

He was full of praise for all the people who played a role in the successful operation.

“I was thinking when am I going to see them separated. I was wondering how it was going to be done but when I came to see them on different beds, I was surprised and so for the first time I was just laughing within me that this is wonderful," an elated Mr. Ohene-Asante said at the ICU.

But that joy was short-lived and suddenly turned into sorrow.

Less than three hours after leaving the hospital, he was hit with the sad news of the death of one of the babies.

All this while, he banked his hope on the other surviving baby who remained in critical condition as doctors worked tirelessly to save her.

Unfortunately for him, he was hit with devastating news of the death of the second baby, dashing all his hopes.

"It was a very sad thing to me because earlier, we had visited the ICU seeing my daughters on the bed and later I was told what happened. So I didn’t receive it in a very good mood," the shocked father sobbed.