Doctors bringing separated twins out of coma

Doctors at the Children's Medical Center, Dallas, are gradually reducing the dosage of coma inducing drugs given to the recently separated Egyptian twins.

The two-year-old conjoined twins were successfully separated surgically over the weekend.

"It could take days for the drugs to wear off, but doctors have not detected anything amiss so far," Dr James Thomas, chief of critical care at the CMC, was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Also see: US doctors separate Egyptian conjoined twins

"All in all, the medical team members are delighted with the boys' progress, but all of us involved in their care remain vigilant to possible complications," he said.

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When the boys come out of their comas, doctors will watch for spontaneous motor functions seen even in sedated children -- reaching to pull out tubes, looking around the room, grimacing.

Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim, joined at the top of their heads when they were born in Egypt on June 2, 2001, were separated Sunday during a 34-hour surgery. They were kept in comas to reduce the risk of brain swelling.

The twins remained in critical but stable condition Wednesday on mechanical ventilators.