PALO ALTO, Calif-- Formerly conjoined Costa Rican twins Yurelia and Fiorella Rocha-Arias are continuing to recover from their November 12 separation surgery, announced physicians from Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford today (28). Yurelia was released from the hospital’s cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) yesterday (27) and moved to an intermediate intensive care bed. Fiorella is expected to join her by the end of the week.
 
“Everyone’s thrilled that they‘re progressing so well,” said Gail Wright, MD, cardiovascular intensive care physician. “Moving out of intensive care is a very big step.”
 
Fiorella’s recovery lags slightly behind her sister’s because she returned to surgery on November 19 for a brief modification of her chest reconstruction and repair of her skin closure, and also needs a couple more days for her respiratory issues to completely clear. Yurelia’s last surgery occurred on November 14 when her life-threatening congenital anomaly known as double outlet right ventricle (DORV) was corrected by Frank Hanley, MD, chief of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery.
 
The twins’ progress has been closely monitored by a multidisciplinary team of specialists in the hospital’s cardiovascular intensive care unit. “We are all upbeat about the girls’ futures,” said Wright. Additionally, physical and occupational therapists are working with Yurelia and Fiorella to help the girls strengthen their muscles, adjust to life apart and learn how to walk.
 
“All in all, there really have been very few surprises in this case and the girls’ recovery is on track,” said Gary Hartman, MD. Hartman was the lead surgeon during the November 12 separation surgery, which involved nursing, anesthesia, cardiothoracic surgery, pediatric general surgery, plastic surgery, cardiac bypass and others. “Basically every discipline in the hospital has been involved with the girls and their care.”
 
“Thank you to everyone at the hospital, the Foundation and Mending Kids for helping our children,” said mom Maria Elizabeth Arias, who, along with dad Jose Luis, is keeping a daily bedside vigil. “We so appreciate the thoughts, prayers and support of the people here and in Costa Rica.”
 
For frequently asked questions and more information, visit http://twins.lpch.org. Gifts in support of Packard Children’s Hospital and the expert care it gives to children like Yurelia and Fiorella can be made by visiting http://twins.lpch.org and clicking the ‘How to Help’ link. To find out more about Mending Kids International, visit http://www.mendingkids.org.
 
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Media interviews Wednesday (28), 2p-3p, Packard Children’s Hospital

• Gary Hartman, MD, lead surgeon
• Gail Wright, MD, cardiovascular intensive care