Octuplet No. 8 Has Abdominal Surgery

HOUSTON —  The youngest of the world’s only living octuplets underwent abdominal surgery Saturday, hours after one of her brothers experienced breathing problems.

All six girls and two boys remained in critical condition in the neonatal intensive care unit of Texas Children’s Hospital. All weighed less than 2 pounds each at birth and are expected to remain in the hospital through February.

Four of the week-old babies were breathing on their own Saturday; the other four required ventilators.

Gorom, a girl, had surgery to repair an intestinal perforation. She was the last of seven babies delivered to Nkem Chukwu, 27, on Dec. 20. Ebuka, a girl, was born Dec. 8.

Ikem, the first boy born, experienced what pediatrician Patti Savrick called a “serious respiratory setback” and was put back on a ventilator. Ebuka also was returned to a ventilator, though doctors didn’t explain why.

Odera, a girl who was the smallest at birth, at 10.3 ounces, remained on a ventilator and required 100% oxygen. Based on her low birth weight, some experts have estimated her chance of survival as low as 20%, compared with better than 80% for her siblings.

Odera also was on medication to fight infection and to control blood pressure. Savrick said, “We’re quite worried. She’s literally on minute-to-minute care.”

The other octuplets--girls Chidi, Echerem and Chima, and boy Jioke--were breathing on their own Saturday night and had suffered no complications so far.

Chukwu is expected to leave St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital early next week, said Dr. Brian Kirshon, her obstetrician.