CONJOINED TWINS RESEARCH By: Desiree Mora and and Emily Keim
Emily Keim
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INTRODUCTION CONTINUED o Then imagine them getting taken away
from you o Almost 1 in every 70,000 to 100,000 people go through
this regularly everyday o They are known as conjoined twins
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TYPES OF CONJOINED TWINS o Thoracopagus o Thoracopagus twins
represents 35% of all conjoined twins o They are the most common
set of conjoined twins o They are joined at the chest and share a
heart, therefore they are rarely attempted for surgery
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TYPES OF CONJOINED TWINS CONTINUED o Omphalopagus o
Omphalopagus twins have the highest rate of survival because they
do not share any necessary organs o They are joined at the abdomen,
very similar to where the Thoracopagus twins are joined but they do
not share a heart o Options for separation are surgery
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MORE CONJOINED TWINS o Pyopagus o Pyopagus have a very high
survival rate because of where they are joined o They are joined at
the posterior and/or the pelvis o Options for separation are
surgery
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MORE CONJOINED TWINS o Parapagus o They are joined down the
middle of the body o If separated they will have to live a life
with at least 2 artificial limbs o The options for surgery is
possible depending on what organs they share
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MORE CONJOINED TWINS o Ischopagus o Ischopagus twins are joined
at the genitals o It is possible to separate but may result in the
loss of the chance of having children
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CONJOINED TWINS o Craniopagus o These twins are joined at the
cranium o Separation is possible depending on how much of the brain
is shared o If separated there is a very high risk of brain
damage
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OPTIONS FOR SEPARATION Options for separation are surgery. A
down side of the surgery is the death of one twin and the other
twin living.
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TREATMENT BY SOCIETY o Images of conjoined twins are sometimes
found in ancient cave drawings. o In later days they were viewed as
freaks, and the few sets that survived into adulthood became
sideshow attractions. o Only in the last 30 years have conjoined
twins been looked at, not as freaks, but as individuals.
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CHANG AND ENG A famous set of conjoined twins are Chang and
Eng. discovered by Robert hunter, he later signed them to a
contract and took them on a world tour,, calling them The Famous
Siamese twins. Because of Chang and Engs popularity, the term
Siamese twins was used until it was finally considered politically
incorrect in the 1960s.
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CLARENCE AND CARL AGUIRRE Clarence and Carl Aguirre celebrate
two birthdays: April 21st, their actual birthday, and August 4th,
the day they were surgically separated and began to live separate
lives. the boys were attached at the top of the head. Although the
surgery was a success, Carl cannot walk or talk well, but Clarence
lives a normal life and helps take care of his brother.
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IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY o Different techniques are
able to be performed as technology improves, saving more lives. o
Prenatal ultrasound can help the family determine whether to
continue the pregnancy, to see if the twins could be separated when
they are born. o 3-d printing helps train surgeons for separation,
by creating a model of the twins for surgeons to practice
separation techniques.
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AUDIOVISUAL TECHNOLOGY Audiovisual technology allows surgeons
to see and plan a roadmap for the day of surgery for conjoined
twins.
