Doctors weigh surgery for two-headed baby
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14359862/
Doctors weigh surgery for two-headed baby
MSNBC
Updated: 2:14 p.m. ET Aug 15, 2006
Doctors in Indonesia are unsure whether they can operate on a baby born with two heads, although the newborn girl is in stable condition, according to published reports.
A team of experts has been assembled at the Pelni Petamburan Hospital in Jakarta to determine how to treat the infant who was born in a healthy condition by Caesarean on Aug. 8, the Agence France-Presse news service reported.
The newborn is an extremely rare form of conjoined twins called a dicephalus twin, which is a child born with two heads, two spinal columns, two arms and legs, but shared multiple internal organs.
The baby, named Syafitri by her parents, is breathing with the assistance of a machine to ensure that enough oxygen flows from her one heart to the two heads, Channel NewsAsia reported.
Currently the baby's vital organs are functioning normally and is in no immediate danger, although doctors are concerned about other complications from her complex condition.
© 2006 MSNBC Interactive
