Kenyatta National Hospital is caring for a pair of conjoined twins who were born last week in Naivasha and transferred to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
The twins, delivered by caesarean section on 13 August at Naivasha County Hospital, weighed a combined 3.6 kilograms.
They were referred to the hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit in the early hours of 14 August, where doctors confirmed they were joined at the abdomen and pelvis.
Doctors also discovered that the infants had no anal openings, which posed an immediate risk to their lives.
On 17 August, a specialist paediatric surgical team performed an emergency colostomy to relieve intestinal obstruction and enable the passage of stool.
Subsequent tests revealed that the babies share a single large intestine.
They were also found to have congenital heart disease, impaired liver function and a mild blood infection, all of which are being managed by a multidisciplinary team.
The surgery was led by senior clinicians under Dr Joel Lessan, with support from a wide team of paediatric surgeons, anaesthesiologists, neonatologists and nursing staff. The hospital said the children are currently stable and continue to receive round-the-clock specialised care.
In a statement, KNH chief executive Dr Evanson Kamuri said the hospital remains committed to supporting the family and will provide regular updates on the children’s progress.
“This is a delicate journey and we will walk with the family every step of the way,” Kamuri said.
