title: Successful separation of thoracopagus conjoined twins.
abstract: The first successful separation of thoracopagus conjoined twins in Eastern Saudi Arabia with 2-year follow up is presented. Physical examination and radiographic studies revealed a conjunction that extended from midsternum to a common umbilicus. The shared internal organs included liver and pericardium. The separation was performed at the age of 4 months. The resulting chest wall defects in both twins were covered by dacron-reinforced silastic prosthesis. The abdominal wall defect was primarily closed in the "left twin," and covered with a dacron reinforced silastic sheet in the "right". Primary skin closure was achieved in both, following extensive mobilization of the skin. The musculoskeletal deformities in the neck, chest and vertebral column showed marked improvement 20 months after separation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. aalarfajsa@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Abdullatif A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Arfaj
authors.forename: Dilip K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Hussam S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kadeeb
authors.forename: Abdulmohsen A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Ghamdi
authors.forename: Mohammad E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Abdulghaffar
authors.forename: Bassam H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Al-Awary
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013909:Thorax / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014428:Twins, Conjoined / Q000601:surgery*