PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Abdullatif A. Al-Arfaj
AU  - Dilip K. Mitra
AU  - Hussam S. Kadeeb
AU  - Abdulmohsen A. Al-Ghamdi
AU  - Mohammad E. Abdulghaffar
AU  - Bassam H. Al-Awary
TI  - Successful separation of thoracopagus conjoined twins
DP  - 2002 Dec 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1522--1526
VI  - 23
IP  - 12
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/23/12/1522.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/23/12/1522.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2002 Dec 01; 23
AB  - 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.