First successfully separated set of thoracic-omphalopagus twins in Ilorin, Nigeria
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Date
2023
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Publisher
Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos.
Abstract
The birth of babies sharing body part(s) and surviving independently is indeed a scientific
marvel. Conjoined twinning is a rare phenomenon with various presentations, having an
estimated incidence of 1 per 200,000 live births. The successes recorded by experts in developed
countries in the separation of conjoined twins in recent times, especially among those with
complex unions are indeed fascinating. The management of conjoined twins presents a great
challenge to medical and surgical teams in tropical African countries such as ours where
we are faced with challenges of limited resources and facilities, even amidst the presence of
well‑trained experts. The incidence of conjoined twins is difficult to report in our practice
because of failures that accompanied previous cases that were managed and not reported. This
is the first successful separation after two previous failed attempts at our center. We report
a case of successful surgical separation of thoraco‑omphalopagus conjoined twins who were
undiagnosed prenatally and delivered by emergency cesarean section following prolonged labor
by a primiparous woman. Babies were joined from the lower chest and the upper abdomen
and they shared a single umbilicus and omphalocele sac. No internal viscus was shared apart
from the torso wall. They were cared for from 12 h of live until 127 days of live when they were
successfully separated by a team of medical and surgical experts. This is a report of a successful
separation of conjoined twins at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in North Central
Nigeria. Careful interdisciplinary conduct of expert activities will ensure the survival of rare
congenital malformations such as conjoined twinning even in underdeveloped climes
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Keywords
Female, Ilorin Nigeria, outcomes, surgical separation, thoraco‑omphalopagus conjoined twins