Egyptian baby learning to breathe after operation

CAIRO - An Egyptian baby who underwent an operation to remove the head of a twin that failed to develop in the womb is gradually being trained to breathe independently, one of the doctors treating her was quoted saying.

"The child was placed on a ventilator and it is removed from time to time to train her to breathe naturally, so it can be permanently removed," Egypt's official Middle East News Agency (MENA) quoted doctor Waleed Sharsheerah saying.

Ten-month old Manar Maged had been suffering from a very rare birth defect known as craniopagus parasiticus, a problem linked to that of conjoined twins linked at the skull.

A 13-hour operation in Benha north of Cairo to remove the head, which could smile and blink but was not capable of independent life, ended on February 19.

Doctors treating Manar were not immediately available to comment further but had previously told Reuters her parents and Egyptian officials had asked them not to talk to journalists.

Doctors had also scanned Manar and found her condition to be "reassuring", with no haemorrhaging in the brain, and had brought convulsions under control, MENA quoted another doctor from the 13-member Egyptian medical team saying.

Nasif Hifnawy said another scan was planned for Friday.

Craniopagus parasiticus occurs when an embryo begins to split into identical twins but does not complete the process. One of the conjoined twins then fails to develop fully in the womb.

- REUTERS