Korean J Anesthesiol.  1997 Sep;33(3):548-552. 10.4097/kjae.1997.33.3.548.

Management of Anesthesia for Xipho-omphalopagus Twins: A case report

• Kim YC
• Shin WJ
• Kim HS
• Yeom JH
• Lee DH

• KMID: 2091172
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1997.33.3.548

Abstract

The birth of conjoined twins remains an extremely rare event. Most of such twins are stillborn and one third of the live births die within first day of life. In Korea, there are only three reports on the anesthesia for separation of different kinds of conjoined twins. In view of anesthesia for separation of such twins prematurity, low birth weight, and anomalous shared organ play the major role on the perioperative morbidity and mortality. Such anesthesia therefore is one of the exceedingly complex fields among the pediatric anesthesia and require mobilization of all possible methods and monitoring devices used for pediatric anesthesia. We performed careful preoperative evaluation of extent of joining, discussion and rehearsal of separation procedure between separation team, and anesthetic care such as all possible monitoring, preservation of body temperature, appropriate fluid therapy, awake intubation, avoid neuromuscular blockers, and thorough separation of duty. The separated twins showed normal weight gain postoperatively and discharged postoperative 31th day without any complications.

Keyword

Anatomy, conjoined twins, xipho-omphalopagus; Anesthesia, neonatal

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia*
Body Temperature
Fluid Therapy
Humans
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Intubation
Korea
Live Birth
Mortality
Neuromuscular Blockade
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
Parturition
Twins, Conjoined
Weight Gain
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents