All about surgery for the separation of Siamese twins
Surgery for the separation of Siamese twins is a complicated procedure in most cases, which should be well evaluated with the doctor, as this surgery is not always indicated, especially in the case of twins joined by the head or sharing vital organs.
- When approved.
- Surgery usually takes a long time and can last longer than 24 hours.
- And even during this period.
- There is a good chance that one or both twins will not survive.
- So it is recommended that the surgery be performed by a doctor.
- Team composed of different specialties in order to minimize risks.
Siamese twins are identical twins connected by a part of the body, such as the trunk, back, and skull, for example, and can also share organs, such as the heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines.in some cases during routine tests during pregnancy, such as an ultrasound.Find out all about Siamese twins.
Surgery to separate siamese twins can take hours and is a very delicate procedure, because depending on the type of joint of the twins, there may be organ exchange, which can make the procedure high risk.In addition, there are cases where twins only share a vital organ, such as the heart or brain, and therefore, when separation occurs, one of the twins will probably have to give his life to save the other.
Organ exchange is more common in twins that are joined by the head and trunk, but when the kidneys, liver and intestines are shared, separation may be a little easier.The big problem is that Siamese brothers rarely share a single organ, which can make their separation even more difficult.In addition to sharing organs and being physically united, Siamese twin brothers are emotionally connected and live a life together.
To perform the surgery it is necessary to have a medical team composed of various specialties that ensure the success of the operation, the presence of a plastic surgeon, a cardiovascular surgeon and a pediatric surgeon is essential in all siamese twin separation surgeries.it is important to separate organs and rebuild tissues and adapt if necessary.
Surgery to separate Siamese twins collected by the skull or sharing brain tissue is rare, long-lasting and very delicate, but some surgeries have already been performed and have had positive results, both children managed to survive, despite some complications during hospitalization and sequelae.
Due to its high risk and complexity, surgery is not always recommended, especially when sharing vital organs.
Thus, if surgery is not possible or if the family, or twins themselves, choose not to undergo surgery, the twins can stay together leading a relatively normal life, as they get used to living together from birth, maintaining a good quality of life..
The greatest risk of surgery for Siamese twins is death during or after the procedure.Depending on how the twins join, surgery can be at high risk, especially if vital organs, such as the heart or brain, are shared.
In addition, the twin, when separated, may have sequelae such as heart failure and neural changes that can cause developmental changes or delays.