Conjoined twins

class presentation

1. Conjoined Twins
Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology And
Bioinformatics Institute ,Pune.
Bhagyashree Shelar
MT321

2. Contents
What are conjoined twins?
Types of conjoined twins
Seperation (If possible)
Summary
Sources

3. What are conjoined twins?
Conjoined twins are identical twins that have not split
properly after fertilization, they share a body and may
share vital organs.
Identical twins are created from a single fertilized egg.
If the egg does not separate within 12 days, it will not
split completely.
Instead of creating two separate embryos, the two
embryos will remain attached, causing the babies to
grow into one another.

4. Types of Conjoined Twins
Conjoined twins are classified by how they are connected to one
another
Each case is different and even if 2 sets of twins share the same
conjoined surface each set of conjoined twins has a unique internal
structure

5. Parasitic Twins:
Manar’s parasitic
twin, Islaam, died
after an extensive
surgery.
• This is a child with its
sibling developing
inside of it.

6. Ischopagus twins
joined at front pelvis
and lower spine
 Ischio-omphalopagus
conjoined twins

7. Cephalopagus twins
are joined at the head
and neck.
• Omphalopagus
twins:
Chang and Eng Bunker
Joined at chest region.

8. Thoracopagus
conjoined twins.
Twins joined side by
side called parapagus
twins.

9. A skull of craniopagus
conjoined twins
Pygopagus conjoined
twins

10. What if… ?
You find out you (or your spouse) are
pregnant with conjoined twins….
Do you….
•Have an abortion?
or
•Take the pregnancy to term?

11. Abort the pregnancy…
Think of all the surgeries they will need to have
later on…prevent their pain
They would always be made fun of
Would never be “Normal” children
Not fair to the children
There would be extremely high medical costs
after they were born

12. When choosing to go through with the
pregnancy…
They are your children and you will love them no
matter what
They at least deserve a chance at survival and a
happy life

13. Once the twins are born
Do you choose to separate them?
 No…
They don’t have privacy, and probably would have a
hard time finding a job
Relationship issues
Will you be treated as one person instead of two
In some cases they’re healthier together
Have to learn to get along and adjust to the world in
their circumstance
Some feel that they were meant to be this way
What if one gets sick and possibly dies do you
separate them to save the other?

14. Separation
Separation of conjoined twins is usually performed at a
very young age.
In some cases the brain or the heart must be separated
in order to provide each twin with vital organs.

15. If separated….
One of the twins dies during or soon after
surgery
The living twin may feel guilt later in life
Wake up from surgery and realize your other
half isn’t there
other psychological issues
Psychological problems for parents
leaving hospital with only one child

16. If separated…
Both twins could die from complications to
the surgery
Sometimes there is one twin that has a greater
chance of survival
Still, they both may die in the end
How do you decide which one gets to live?

17. If separated…
Both twins survive the separation
Unlikely that both will be completely healthy
and happy
One may be fine while other has major
complications

18. Summary:
Conjoined twins are identical twins form
by same zygote.
They classify based on the join.
They can be seperated if there organs are
not joined.
Can not seperated when they are sharing
organs or systems.

19. Source
www.oumedicine.com
www.winona.edu
www.wikispaces.com