Advances in surgery raise survival rates for conjoined twins

Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies are joined together and who often share vital organs. The condition is rare, occurring about once in every 200,000 births, with the highest incidence occurring in south-west Asia and Africa. Females are more often affected than males.The birth of conjoined babies can be extremely traumatic. It is estimated that between 40 to 60% of these births are delivered stillborn, with 35% surviving only one day.Of those conjoined twins that survive:• 70% are connected at the chest or upper abdomen;• 25% are connected lower down and share hips or legs;• 5% are connected at the head.Improved medical imaging techniques and operating procedures in recent years have increased patients' survival prospects. However, the position of the twins' connections and the extent of their sharing of organs, such as hearts, lungs or livers, also has a crucial bearing on the outcome of separation surgery.In the past,...

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