Conjoined twins high-five dance after surgery

February 22, 2004

NEW YORK (AP) —A day after their riskiest operation yet, two Filipino(1 )brothers joined at the tops of their heads GREeted doctors with high-fives and a little dance Saturday.

Surgeons at Montefiore Medical Center said the 22-month-old brothers’ liveliness following Friday’s surgery was a sign they are still on course for surgery to fully separate them later this year.

“It’s just incredibly moving to see that after this tremendous and delicate operation they’re up and breathing on their own,” said Dr. David Staffenberg after looking in on Carl and Clarence Aguirre.

The 5 1/2-hour surgery—the boys’ third major operation—was treacherous(2) and included such challenges as having to separate bone from blood vessels and trying not to damage delicate veins.

Staffenberg, Montefiore’s chief of pediatric(3) neurosurgery(4), said Carl performed a “wiggle(5) dance” and Clarence offered his “usual shtick(6),” which Dr. James Goodrich, the lead neurosurgeon, said included a high-five.

Doctors said it would be 72 hours before the main threat of bleeding and seizures(7) passed.

Notes: 1. Filipino n.菲律宾人

2. treacherous adj.危险的

3. pediatric adj.小儿科的

4. neurosurgery n.神经外科

5. wiggle v. 扭动；摆动；摇摆

6. shtick n.滑稽场面

7. seizure n. （疾病）发作