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Pediatric Cardiology
Published in: Pediatric Cardiology 1/2006

01-02-2006 | Review

Congenital Heart Defects in Conjoined Twins: Outcome After Surgical Separation of Thoracopagus

Authors: C. J. McMahon, R. Spencer

Published in: Pediatric Cardiology | Issue 1/2006

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Abstract

In this study, we correlated cardiac malformations in the various types of conjoined twins with the proposed site of embryologic union and evaluated the possibility of survival after surgical separation. We conclude that surgical separation is only very rarely successful in twins with united hearts, whereas survival in twins with separate hearts is more dependent on the malformations of other viscera. This report deals primarily with conjoined twins in whom anomalies of the heart are the major factor in deciding whether surgical separation is feasible.
Footnotes
1
The details of these cases, as collected from > 1200 cases, reviewed in Spencer R (2003) Conjoined twins: developmental malformations and (clinical implications, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore (MD).
 
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Metadata
Title
Congenital Heart Defects in Conjoined Twins: Outcome After Surgical Separation of Thoracopagus
Authors
C. J. McMahon
R. Spencer
Publication date
01-02-2006
Publisher
Springer New York
Published in
Pediatric Cardiology / Issue 1/2006
Print ISSN: 0172-0643
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1971
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-005-0835-5

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