Conjoined twins in the spotlight

After further investigation, doctors determined Xinxin had a relatively complete heart, with two well developed atriums and ventricles. Qiaoqiao had just one atrium and one ventricle - both connected to Xinxin's. Qiaoqiao's left lung did not function properly.

The twin girls were one of the country's rarest types of conjoined twins. [Photo/ China Daily]

Several national experts were approached for their opinions, and it was eventually concluded the twins could not be separated.

The only way for them to continue to live, Meng explains, was to improve their cardio-pulmonary functions, and reduce the risk of pulmonary infections and respiratory failure.

"Their congenital cardiac malformation and pulmonary problems were very rare and acute," Meng says.

These birth defects led to pulmonary hypertension, causing blood clots in the lungs and infections that lessened blood flow and oxygen supply to the hearts.

Doctors had to resort to ventilators and antibiotics. Two non-invasive ventilators were purchased and transported by air for the babies on May 14 but gradually failed to meet their needs.

The tough decision to use an invasive ventilator on Xinxin was made on June 5. But it was discovered that Xinxin's inflated lungs had a deleterious effect on Qiaoqiao.

With the invasive ventilators, the twins could hardly swallow milk and nasogastric tubes were inserted so milk could be pumped into their stomachs.

"It was to retain stomach function rather than to provide nutrition," Meng says.

After two months in critical condition, the twins' situation started to improve in mid-July. At their peak, the twins weighed 5 kg, compared with their birth weight of 4 kg.

But even this apparent improvement was problematic.

"The nutrients and medicines increased the burden on their kidneys and livers," Meng says. "But we had no choice."

Nurse Yang Peng and her colleagues did their best to make the twins more comfortable and created a mat that made it easier for them to lie on and avoid bedsores.

While Qiaoqiao seldom opened her eyes, Xinxin would occasionally make eye contact, babbled and sometimes played with toys. Xinxin would even silently cry and looked out the window, Yang says.

"They were suffering and getting worse in the last month," Yang says.

On Oct 3, the twins died of massive heart failure.

"The congenital cardiac and pulmonary malformation was the direct cause of death," Meng concludes.