Separation of omphalopagus conjoined twins using combined caudal epidural-general anesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the anesthetic management of newborn omphalopagus conjoined twins undergoing a series of diagnostic and surgical procedures which culminated in successful separation at one month of age.


METHODS
Evaluations of the extent of shared organ systems were carried out without the need for anesthesia. The twins were anesthetized twice, once for insertion of skin expanders, and later for surgical separation. Various airway management techniques were utilized. To facilitate surgical separation, caudal epidural catheters were inserted in an effort to provide both operative and post-operative analgesia. In addition, prior to the induction of anesthesia, the extent of cross-circulation between twins was assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Caudal epidural catheters can be used to provide both operative and post-operative analgesia. Early extubation, another benefit of regional analgesia, was not achieved because both twins developed respiratory failure in the immediate postoperative period. Testing for the extent of cross-circulation between twins proved valuable, allowing for detailed scripting of the complex induction sequence and airway management.
Greenberg
M
M
Department of Anesthesiology, UCSD Medical Center, University of California at San Diego, 92103-8770, USA. mgreenbe@ucsd.edu
Frankville
D D
DD
Hilfiker
M
M
Frenchville
D D
DD
D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D004065:Digestive System Abnormalities; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014428:Twins, Conjoined / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*