Conjoined twins: twenty years' experience at a reference center in Brazil
Ana Cristina Aoun Tannuri1, Julio Americo Pereira Batatinha, Manoel Carlos Prieto Velhote
1Pediatric Liver Transplantation Unit and Laboratory of Research in Pediatric Surgery (LIM 30), Pediatric Surgery Division, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
|May 7, 2013
Summary
This study analyzed 21 conjoined twin cases over 20 years, detailing surgical management and outcomes. Thorough anatomical investigation and surgical planning are crucial for successful separation of conjoined twins.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Congenital Anomalies
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Conjoined twins present unique surgical challenges due to shared anatomy.
- Effective management requires meticulous pre-operative evaluation and planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on the surgical experience and outcomes of managing conjoined twins.
- To detail the anatomical investigations and surgical strategies employed.
- To evaluate the success rates of separation procedures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 21 conjoined twin cases treated over 20 years.
- Detailed imaging evaluation of abdominal anatomy, including shared organs (liver, spleen, pancreas).
- Analysis of surgical separation procedures and post-operative outcomes.
Main Results:
- Diverse types of conjoined twins were encountered, including ischiopagus and thoracopagus.
- Nine pairs could not be separated due to complex organ sharing (liver, heart).
- Twelve pairs were successfully separated with a 66.7% surgical survival rate; mesh closure was preferred for abdominal walls.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive anatomical study and surgical planning are essential prerequisites for conjoined twin separation.
- A skilled pediatric surgery team is adequate for managing these complex cases.
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