Twins joined at chest successfully separated at Texas hospital

HOUSTON, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Surgeons at Texas Children's Hospital successfully separated twin 10-month-old girls who were conjoined at the chest last week.

The babies, Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata, were born April 11 via Caesarian section sharing a chest wall, lungs, diaphragm, intestines, colon and pelvis.

A team of 12 surgeons, six anesthesiologists, eight surgical nurses and several other helpers spent about 26 hours separating the two girls Tuesday. The twins were pulled apart 18 hours into the surgery, and surgeons worked an additional five hours on Knatalye and eight hours on Adeline.

Surgeons said the marathon procedure was a success.

"This is the first time a separation surgery for thoraco-omphalo-ischiopagus twins with this particular configuration has been successful," said Dr. Darrell Cass, pediatric surgeon, co-director of Texas Children's Fetal Center and associate professor of surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine. "This surgery was not without its challenges with the girls sharing several organ systems.  Our team has been preparing for this surgery for months and we've done everything from working with our radiology experts to build a 3-D model of their organs, to conducting simulations of the actual separation surgery."

"I want them to have a shot at having a normal life," the girls' mother, Elysse Mata, told KTRK. "I'm looking forward of just going home and dressing them in tutus and bows and pink and purple and ribbon and I'm just excited."

The Mata twins will remain at TCH until they are strong enough to leave.