Bhubaneswar: Kalia, one of the craniopagus twins who were separated in 2017 in one of the most complex medical procedures in India, died of pneumonia and septicaemia at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack Wednesday, officials said.
Kalia, undergoing treatment at SCB, was critical over the last week and put on ventilator support two days back, they said.
“We are sorry that Kalia succumbed to pneumonia and septicaemia at 9.10 pm. Despite our all-out efforts, Kalia passed away,” said Bhubananda Maharana, the emergency officer of the hospital.
The twins were admitted to the hospital in September last year after their discharge from AIIMS-New Delhi where they had undergone two major medical procedures for the separation of their heads.
“Deeply shocked to hear the untimely passing away of one of the conjoint twins ‘Kaalia’ separated at AIIMS, New Delhi with full assistance from State Govt. As per kind direction of our Hon’ble CM. I express my heartfelt condolence to the family and may his soul rest in peace,” Odisha’s Health Minister NK Das tweeted.
Maharana said that the health condition of Jaga, the other twin, is stable and he is doing well. Born to Bhuyan Kanar and Puspanjali Kanar of Milipada in the Kandhamal district, the twins were suffering from a rare craniopagus disorder. They were admitted to AIIMS July 13, 2017 with the help of the Odisha government.
The twins had undergone two marathon surgeries that year. The first phase of the surgery was performed August 28 when the doctors created a venous bypass to separate the veins shared by the babies that return blood to the heart from the brain.
The final separation of the duo was performed by a team of around 30 specialists from the institute’s neurosurgery, neuro-anaesthesia, and plastic surgery departments October 25.
Following the surgery, Jaga’s condition improved rapidly but Kalia was found to be suffering from certain deficiencies.
The condition, which the twins suffered from, afflicted one in 30 lakh children, of which 50 per cent die either at birth or within 24 hours, doctors who treated them said.
The successful surgery that separated the heads of the conjoined twins was featured in the 2020 edition of the Limca Book of Records as the first such operation in the country.
Maharana said, “Jaga will continue to stay in the hospital”.