Spines of 2-yr-old Lakshmi separated: Doctors
 
 
BANGALORE, Nov 7: Doctors at a superspeciality hospital here, who have commenced a complicated surgery on two year-old Lakshmi, a conjoined twin, on Tuesday successfully separated the spines.

"The condition of the child is stable," doctors said.

A team of neurosurgeons have completed their part of the surgery, separated the spines, which the doctors described as "most critical" part of the 40-hour operation that began at 7 am (IST) on Tuesday.

Dr Sharan Patil, the orthopaedic surgeon who heads the five-member core team performing the operation at Sparsh Hospital, said the separation of spines has been smooth without any complications.

"Paediatric surgeons are now operating and trying to separate the organs and then orthopaedic surgeons will try to reconstruct the pelvic ring," he said.

"With the reconstruction of the pelvic ring, the first stage of the surgery will be completed," Patil said.

He expressed hope that the team will be able to complete the first stage of the operation on Tuesday night.

Lakshmi arrived at Sparsh Hospital, a part of Narayana Health city on October 3 from a village in Araria district in Bihar and underwent a series of medical tests.

Parents of Lakshmi, Shambhu, a daily wage labourer and Poonam have come with great hopes to the hospital and have reposed complete faith in the team, Patil said.