PALO ALTO, Calif-- MEDIA ADVISORY
(Family not meeting media, but video interview, footage and photos are available)
 
NEWS CONFERENCE THURSDAY, 9/20/07, 2PM
PACKARD CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, 725 WELCH RD., PALO ALTO, CA (map)
PARKING AT MARY L. JOHNSON PEDIATRIC AMBULATORY CARE CENTER, 730 WELCH RD. (map)
Physician leaders at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital will meet the media at 2pm this Thursday to discuss the evaluation, preparation and upcoming surgery for conjoined twin girls from San Jose, Costa Rica.
 
OVERVIEW
Two-year-old Yurelia and Fiorella Rocha-Arias and their mother Maria Elizabeth Arias flew from Costa Rica to Packard Children's in late July. Since that time, an extensive team of physicians and caregivers have carefully evaluated the possibility of surgical separation for the twins, who are joined at the chest and abdomen and face each other (called a thoraco-omphalopagus connection). After comprehensive review, doctors at Packard Children’s have determined that separation surgery can be done.
 
“Like all cases of conjoined twins, this surgery is complex and risky,” said Gary Hartman, MD, lead surgeon. “Besides the challenge of separation, both Yurelia and Fiorella have congenital heart defects and they share a liver. These issues cannot be addressed until separation occurs.” However, Hartman and team must delay surgery until late fall, allowing time for tissue expanders to gradually stretch the girls’ skin. “Separating the girls creates a large skin gap where they were connected,” said Hartman. “So on August 21, we inserted three tissue expanders between the twins’ muscle and skin.” Yurelia and Fiorella, who are not hospitalized, now have weekly appointments at Packard Children’s to have saline injected into the expanders, which are like small rectangular balloons. “After 12 weeks, the expanders should allow enough coverage to close the skin,” said Hartman, “so separation could happen in late November.” Meanwhile, Yurelia and Fiorella are enjoying their Dora the Explorer books and adjusting to life in the Bay Area while prepping for the big day. The twins and mom Maria are not meeting the media, but a video interview, footage and photos of the family are available.

MEETING THE MEDIA

• Gary Hartman, MD, lead surgeon. Dr. Hartman’s experience with conjoined twins is extensive. This is the fifth conjoined twins case of his career.
• Frank Hanley, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon. Dr. Hanley is internationally-known for his pioneering approach to the surgical repair of complex congenital heart defects.
• M. Gail Boltz, MD, pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist. Dr. Boltz leads a team of five anesthesiologists keeping the twins comfortable throughout the clinical and surgical process.
• Cris Embleton, executive director of Mending Kids International, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing donated medical care to needy children worldwide. (Surgeons and physicians at Packard Children’s are donating their time and expertise to treat Yurelia and Fiorella. In addition, the hospital is covering the expense of all medical and clinical care. Mending Kids International is paying for the children’s transportation and housing.)

• Video footage of conjoined twins Yurelia and Fiorella
• Video interview with mom Maria Elizabeth Arias, with Spanish-to-English interpretation
• Digital stills of Yurelia, Fiorella and Maria
• Frequently asked questions