Management of conjoined twins: experience with nine cases in Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction and methodology: Conjoined twins are a rare anomaly that has generated a great deal of interest because of its complex management. We present the experience achieved during 40 years at the Section of Pediatric Surgery, University of Antioquia, in Medellin, Colombia.

Results: In the period between 1970 and 2010, nine cases of conjoined twins were treated by our group, six of them at Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl and three at the Social Security Institute. Their distribution was as follows: three pairs of asymmetric twins (parasites); two pairs of thoracoonphalopagus, two pairs of omphaloxigopagus, one pair of pygopagus and one pair of ischiopagus.

Discussion and conclusions: Separation of conjoined twins is a rare situation in the practice of pediatric surgery. Therefore, it is important to share and publish the experience achieved in order to improve the short and long-term outcomes. Our experience has taught us the importance of proper prenatal diagnosis, safe preoperative approach, judicious planning of surgery and rigorous postoperative follow-up.