[Reconstruction of thoracic and pericardial defects and consequent cardiac exposure in a thoracoventropagus following the separation surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To explore and apply a reconstructive technique for thoracic and pericardial defects and cardiac exposure in a thoracoventropagus following the separation operation.


METHODS
The separation operation was performed by the abdominal, the cardiothoracic and the plastic reconstructive surgeons in three teams. Nonbiological material was used in infant A to reconstruct the defective his thorax and pericardium resulted from the separation surgery. During the operation, infant B was protected with emphasis, preserving larger amount of thoraco-abdominal tissue to facilitate one-stage repair by direct suturing. Multiple tongue-shaped large skin flaps were designed to repair the huge soft tissue defects. The wound was closed in one stage.


RESULTS
Both of the infants survived after the surgery. Infant A with severe defect of his anterior thorax and abdominal and consequent cardiac exposure was eventually cured in 3-year hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
The repair and reconstruction of the defective tissues and organs in the thoraco-abdminal conjoined twins were highly difficult. The modern plastic surgical techniques used for the task were reliable, effective and successful.
Zhuag
Fu-lian
FL
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China.
D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D014428:Twins, Conjoined / Q000601:surgery*