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Query: UMLS:C0243026 (sepsis)
 52,417 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A pair of thoracopagus conjoined twins with a connection at the atrioventricular groove of both hearts and a huge conjoined liver were surgically separated. An aortopulmonary shunt was created for Twin B, a victim of complex congenital heart disease with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, who died 5 hours later. However, Twin A survived after prolonged endotracheal intubation and parenteral nutrition. He survived for 7 months, and went home, but finally died of sepsis. In reviewing 47 pairs of surgically separated thoracopagus conjoined twins, in 30 pairs of type A (Leachman's classification, completely separate hearts), 42 patients survived (70%); in 5 pairs of type B (atrial connection only), one patient survived (10%); in 9 pairs of type C (both atrial and ventricular interconnections), none survived; in 3 pairs of unknown type, 2 survived. Total survival rate of surgically separated thoracopagus conjoined twins was 47.9%. The survival rate was 38.2% in those operated in the neonatal period (n = 34) and 63.6% in those operated over 1 month of age (n = 44) (p = 0.016). In conclusion, thoracopagus conjoined twins are rare. Although its separation carries a high risk, especially in those with cardiac connection, this report confirmed that separation is still feasible under proper preparation and planning.
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PMID:Separation of thoracopagus conjoined twins. A case report. 799 41

Three pairs of female conjoined twins--a xiphoomphalopagus, a pygopagus, and a thoracopagus--were encountered during the past 10 years. Surgical separation was successful in the xiphopagus, and both twins survived. Separation was also successful in the pygopagus, but only one of the twins survived; the twin that died had sustained cerebral hemorrhage before the operation. Both of the twins in the thoracopagus died before surgery could be performed, due to sepsis and heart failure, 44 days after birth. Separation surgery of conjoined twins is often successful with a high survival rate of both twins unless vital organs such as the brain or the heart are fused. However, unlike other operations, separation surgery entails ethical considerations pertaining to matters such as the distribution of organs in addition to surgical considerations. Furthermore, separation of conjoined twins is certain to cause various degrees of anatomical as well as functional disorders associated with the surgical procedure, and provision for the postoperative care for these disorders is indispensable.
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PMID:Experience with treatment of three pairs of conjoined twins. 925 92