More surgery for Siamese twin in Australia

BRISBANE, Australia (Reuters) -- Separated Siamese twin Tay-lah Armstrong has undergone surgery to stop a leak of spinal fluid from the brain and is in a critical condition, but her sister Monique remains stable, Australian doctors said on Tuesday.

Neurosurgeon Dr Scott Campbell, who led the team which separated the twins last week, said Tay-lah's cerebo-spinal fluid leak was anticipated and the surgery on Monday was a "routine repair."

"This was one of the potential complications foreshadowed by the surgical team," Alan Isles, manager of the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane, said in a statement.

Six-month-old twins Tay-lah and Monique were joined at the back of the head. Tay-lah is the weaker twin, suffering slight brain damage and renal failure, and had undergone surgery before the 12-hour separation operation.

Both girls are now in general wards, but doctors said the next two weeks would be critical to their survival.

"Neurologically, the twins are in a stable condition but it is important that we take their improvements one day at a time," Campbell said.

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