Separation of thoracopagus conjoined twins. A case report

J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 1994 Oct;35(5):459-62.

Abstract

A pair of thoracopagus conjoined twins with a connection at the atrioventricular groove of both hearts and a huge conjoined liver were surgically separated. An aortopulmonary shunt was created for Twin B, a victim of complex congenital heart disease with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, who died 5 hours later. However, Twin A survived after prolonged endotracheal intubation and parenteral nutrition. He survived for 7 months, and went home, but finally died of sepsis. In reviewing 47 pairs of surgically separated thoracopagus conjoined twins, in 30 pairs of type A (Leachman's classification, completely separate hearts), 42 patients survived (70%); in 5 pairs of type B (atrial connection only), one patient survived (10%); in 9 pairs of type C (both atrial and ventricular interconnections), none survived; in 3 pairs of unknown type, 2 survived. Total survival rate of surgically separated thoracopagus conjoined twins was 47.9%. The survival rate was 38.2% in those operated in the neonatal period (n = 34) and 63.6% in those operated over 1 month of age (n = 44) (p = 0.016). In conclusion, thoracopagus conjoined twins are rare. Although its separation carries a high risk, especially in those with cardiac connection, this report confirmed that separation is still feasible under proper preparation and planning.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Electrocardiography
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnosis
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / pathology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Liver / abnormalities
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Twins, Conjoined / pathology
  • Twins, Conjoined / surgery*