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Physiological Problems Associated with Different Types of Conjoined Twins

Physiological Problems Associated with Different Types of Conjoined Twins. Ammar Zia. Background Information. Conjoined Twins – Identical twins whose bodies are connected in someway. 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000 (higher incidence in Asia and Africa). Survival rate: 25%.

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Physiological Problems Associated with Different Types of Conjoined Twins

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  1. Physiological Problems Associated with Different Types of Conjoined Twins Ammar Zia

  2. Background Information • Conjoined Twins – Identical twins whose bodies are connected in someway. • 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000 (higher incidence in Asia and Africa). • Survival rate: 25%. • More frequent among females.

  3. How does this phenomenon occur? Two Theories: 1: Fission (more widely accepted) - fertilized egg fails to completely separate thus two twins are born attached. 2: Fusion - fertilized egg does completely separate, but stem cells from one twin find and attach to like stem cells from the second twin.

  4. Physiological Problems… • Separating conjoined twins is usually a process that is extremely life threatening to one or both twins. The complexity depends on where the twins are joined. There are 5 common types of conjoined twins: over 15 in total. • There are many factors that need to be considered when deciding to pursue separation (Are any vital organs shared? Are the twins healthy? What are the odds of a successful separation? Will there be any complications if the twins are left conjoined).

  5. … • Complications during surgery can negatively affect twins. • These include: formation of blood clots in new blood vessels that have been created, heart infections, and internal bleeding.

  6. Common Types of Conjoined Twins • Thoracopagus – Joined at the chest (from the clavicle to the sternum). Most common. Heart is always shared – very risky to separate, therefore, often left conjoined. • Omphalopagus – Joined at the chest. Similar to Thoracopagus, but heart is not involved. Liver is involved, but since it can regenerate, separation is often successful.

  7. … • Parasitic twins – are not symmetrical. One fully develops while the other does not. • Craniopagus – are connected at the skull.

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