Cuttack: Ganga-Jamuna, the twins joined from the stomach, will undergo a second phase of tests in the next few days, before the option of life-saving operation is weighed.
At present, the twins are under doctor's supervision at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (Sishu Bhavan).
Sishu Bhavan superintendent Dr Saroj Satpathy told The Telegraph on Sunday that Ganga-Jamuna's condition was "not stable".
"The twins will have to undergo more tests for proper assessment of the complex case," Satpathy said.
The twin sisters, less than three-day-old, were brought to the hospital on Friday within 24 hours of birth and a team of 12 doctors are monitoring their condition.
Ganga-Jamuna are thoracopagus twins, who are fused at the thorax (chest and the upper abdomen). The chances of such births are one in 10 lakh.
"It's a complex case and the first case of conjoined twins of such intricate nature at the hospital. Since they are only two-day-old, we are not taking risks," Satpathy said.
Ganga-Jamuna were taken to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in a special ambulance to undergo several tests including X-ray, body CT scan, ultrasound and echo.
"We had to take Ganga-Jamuna to the SCB as the test facilities are not available with us. They have been kept in the ICU of the sick newborn care unit," Satpathy said.
Health minister Pratap Jena visited Sishu Bhavan to enquire about the condition of the newborns on Saturday.
Jena told reporters that the government would bear all the expenses for the treatment of the conjoined twins.
"If necessary, surgeons will be called to conduct the life-saving operation or even they can be taken to a hospital outside the state as in the case of Jaga-Kalia," Jena said.
"Ganga-Jamuna are under close observation as their cardiac condition is still unstable. A clear picture will emerge after the test reports are received," said Dr P.K. Jena, head of department of paediatric surgery, who heads the 12-member special team.
The conjoined twins were born to Kishore Datta and Sumitra of Nayagarh's Khadipatna village at a private nursing home on Friday morning.
After birth, the twins were taken to the Nayagarh district headquarters hospital, where doctors referred them to Sishu Bhavan.
