CONJOINED TWINS RESEARCH By: Desiree Mora and and Emily Keim Emily Keim

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 Eng’s popularity, the term Siamese twins was used until it was finally considered politically incorrect in the 1960’s.

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.

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.

AUDIOVISUAL TECHNOLOGY Audiovisual technology allows surgeons to see and plan a “roadmap” for the day of surgery for conjoined twins.