[Medical treatment following successful separation of thoracopagus conjoined twins].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze and summarize the medical treatment experience following separation of thoracopagus conjoined twins.

METHOD: The clinical manifestations and the medical therapy of a pair of thoracopagus conjoined twins were analyzed. The conjunction of the female twins was from 5 cm above the nipple to the umbilicus. They also suffered from complex congenital heart diseases. At the 17th day of their lives, they were surgically separated. One girl died after the operation, the other survived but experienced heart failure, sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction (including liver, blood and kidney et al). In order to protect or maintain the main organ function, the vital signs and the objective indexes were monitored continually, such as blood routine test, C reactive protein, hepatorenal function, bacterial culture, and galactomannan test, blood gas analysis and chest radiogram.

CONCLUSION

It is important to protect the main organ function and prevent or control infection. The early surgical correction of congenital heart disease may contribute to recovery of the children.