VOA慢速英语2017--美国医生成功向四腿宝宝施行手术

 

Doctors at an American hospital have successfully operated on a baby born with four legs and two spines².

The 10-month old baby girl is known only as ‘Dominique’ from Ivory Coast. She is reported to be recovering well.

Doctors separated her from a parasitic³ twin in a complex operation on March 8 at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge⁴, Illinois.

Hospital officials say the operation lasted six hours. It involved five surgeons and many other healthcare workers.

The bottom half of the not-fully-developed twin’s body was sticking out from Dominque’s neck and back. The twin was dependent on Dominque’s body and could not survive independently.

Dr. John Ruge is a child care specialist.

"This is a situation where identical twins failed to separate. And, the separation, it can be connected in a variety of different manners."

Dominique was born with two spinal⁵ columns. Without an operation her life would likely not be a long one with physical problems and pain, doctors said. They were concerned about the pressure put upon Dominique’s back and organs.

Doctor Ruge says her heart and lungs were working to support two bodies.

"It is as if the twin, from the waist down, had been attached to the back of Dominique's neck. And, there was a pelvis and bladder, and functional⁶ legs that moved, and feet coming out of the back of Dominique's neck. Now, this made it extremely dangerous for Dominique."

Doctors used imaging equipment to create a three-dimensional model of her two spines. A second bladder behind the extra legs had to be removed. 

The team of surgeons performed a test operation to prepare for the surgery. In the real operation, doctors disconnected nerves and blood passages to prevent feelings of numbness⁷ or even paralysis⁸.

Dr. Frank Vicari was also part of the surgical⁹ team.

"So, we took her to the operating room. We approached the problem, the critical part being at the base of the junction¹⁰ of the two spines and the abnormal pelvis. And, once we had control of that, I think it was pretty clear to most people in the operating room that we were going to be able to accomplish this surgery."

Dominique was able to sit up the day after the surgery and was released from the hospital five days later. She is now recovering at the home of a foster family in Chicago. They will care for her until she is well enough to return home to her family in Africa.

Doctors do believe that baby Dominique will be able to have a normal and productive life.

Words in This Story

spine¹ – n. backbone¹¹; the connected bones down the middle of the back

parasitic – n. of or related to an organism living in, with or on another organism

twin – n. one of two persons produced at a birth

three-dimensional – adj. having or appearing to have length, width and depth

numbness – n. the not able to move

paralysis – n. a condition in which you are unable to move or feel all or part of your body

approach – v. to move or become nearer to something or someone

junction – n. a place where two things join

foster family – n. a family that cares for a child for a short time

1 spine   

n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊

参考例句：

• He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
• His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

2 spines   

n.脊柱( spine的名词复数 )；脊椎；（动植物的）刺；书脊

参考例句：

• Porcupines use their spines to protect themselves. 豪猪用身上的刺毛来自卫。
• The cactus has spines. 仙人掌有刺。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 parasitic   

adj.寄生的

参考例句：

• Will global warming mean the spread of tropical parasitic diseases?全球变暖是否意味着热带寄生虫病会蔓延呢？
• By definition,this way of life is parasitic.从其含义来说，这是种寄生虫的生活方式。

4 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

5 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

6 functional   

adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的

参考例句：

• The telephone was out of order,but is functional now.电话刚才坏了，但现在可以用了。
• The furniture is not fancy,just functional.这些家具不是摆着好看的，只是为了实用。

7 numbness   

n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆

参考例句：

• She was fighting off the numbness of frostbite. 她在竭力摆脱冻僵的感觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Sometimes they stay dead, causing' only numbness. 有时，它们没有任何反应，只会造成麻木。 来自时文部分

8 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

9 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

10 junction   

n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站

参考例句：

• There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
• You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。

11 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。