CONJOINED TWINS RESEARCH By: Desiree Mora and Emily Keim

INTRODUCTION oIoIoIoImagine having your brother/sister at your side constantly oIoIoIoImagine waking up next to them everyday oNoNoNoNever being able to get away from them

INTRODUCTION CONTINUED oToToToThen imagine him/her getting taken away from you o Ao Ao Ao Almost 1 in every 70,000 to 100,000 people go through this regularly everyday oToToToThey are known as conjoined twins

WHAT IS A CONJOINED TWIN A set of identical twins fused somehow before birth in the mother’s womb.

THORACOPAGUS TWINS oToToToThoracopagus twins represents 35% of all conjoined twins oToToToThey are the most common set of conjoined twins oToToToThey are joined at the chest and share a heart, therefore they are rarely attempted for surgery

OMPHALOPAGUS TWINS o Oo Oo Oo Omphalopagus twins have the highest rate of survival because they do not share any necessary organs oToToToThey are joined at the abdomen, very similar to where the Thoracopagus twins are joined but they do not share a heart oOoOoOoOptions for separation are surgery

PYOPAGUS TWINS oPoPoPoPyopagus have a very high survival rate because of where they are joined oToToToThey are joined at the posterior and/or the pelvis oOoOoOoOptions for separation are surgery

PARAPAGUS TWINS o Po Po Po Parapagus twins are joined down the middle of the body oIoIoIoIf separated they will have to live a life with at least 2 artificial limbs oToToToThe option for surgery is possible depending on what organs they share

ISCHOPAGUS TWINS oIoIoIoIschopagus twins are joined at the genitals oIoIoIoIt is possible to separate but may result in the loss of the chance of having children

CRANIOPAGUS TWINS oToToToThese twins are joined at the cranium oSoSoSoSeparation is possible depending on how much of the brain is shared oIoIoIoIf 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.

WHAT IS AUDIOVISUAL TECHNOLOGY? Audiovisual technology allows surgeons to see and plan a “roadmap” for the day of surgery for conjoined twins. It helps the separation of conjoined twins by letting surgeons see where the twins are conjoined and what organs they share.

IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY oDoDoDoDifferent techniques are able to be performed as technology improves, saving more lives. oPoPoPoPrenatal ultrasounds can help the family determine whether to continue the pregnancy or not, it shows if the twins can be separated when they are born. o3o3o3o3-D printing helps train surgeons for separation, by creating a model of the twins for surgeons to practice separation techniques.

TREATMENT BY SOCIETY oIoIoIoImages of conjoined twins are sometimes found in ancient cave drawings. oIoIoIoIn later days they were viewed as “freaks”, and the few sets that survived into adulthood became sideshow attractions. oOoOoOoOnly 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.