Conjoined twin has operation to close hole in chest

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-16 11:28

One of the conjoined twins separated by surgeons earlier this month has had an operation to close a hole in her chest.

The twins were born joined at the abdomen, and shared a liver and part of the intestine. [Agencies]

Faith Williams was described as in a stable but critical condition by staff at Great Ormond Street hospital in London.

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She lost her twin sister, Hope, two weeks ago after surgeons were forced to carry out an 11 hour operation to try to separate them.

Hope died shortly after the operation because her lungs were not strong enough to sustain her breathing.

The twins had been joined at the abdomen from the breastbone to the naval and shared a liver, part of the intestine and some major blood vessels.

After the operation surgeons did not close up Faith's chest, but have now done so.

Their mother, Laura Williams, 18, became the youngest mother of conjoined twins when she gave birth by caesarean section on November 26.

She and her husband Aled, 28, from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, have thanked staff who carried out Faith's latest operation.

In a statement GOSH said that Faith had "tolerated" the procedure "and remains stable but critical in the intensive care unit" at the hospital.

After their lengthy operation surgeons gave Faith a 50:50 chance of survival.