These Siamese twins were born joined at the chest and stomach. And one large blood vessel connected their hearts. After a 7-hour operation, doctors managed to separate them. See what they look like after the unique operationBeauty treatments
Thanks to advances in modern medicine and surgery, Siamese twins can often be separated, allowing them to lead “normal” lives. If the twins are minors and do not share vital organs, separation surgery may be successful.
Recently, a remarkable case of Siamese twins born joined at the chest and stomach was reported. The twins, Anna Grace and Hope Elizabeth, were connected at the chest and abdomen and shared a large blood vessel that connected their hearts. A team of doctors successfully separated them after a 7-hour surgery.
Key Facts About Conjoined Twins:
– Types of Conjoined Twins:
– Thoracopagus: Joined at the chest, often sharing a heart and liver
– Omphalopagus: Joined at the abdomen, may share liver or intestines
– Ischiopagus: Joined at the pelvis, may share genital or urinary organs
– Causes and Statistics:
– Conjoined twins occur when a single fertilized egg fails to fully separate during development
– They are rare, occurring in about 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000 live births
– About 40-60% of conjoined twins are stillborn
– Surgery and Survival:
– Separation surgery is possible for some conjoined twins, depending on shared organs and overall health
– Success rate varies depending on complexity of connection and expertise of surgical team
– Survival rate is generally low, especially for twins sharing critical organs like the heart or brain
In this case, the twins’ successful separation was a result of advances in modern medicine and surgery. The surgical team carefully evaluated the twins’ anatomy and developed a plan to separate them, ultimately allowing them to lead normal lives
Thanks to advances in modern medicine and surgery, Siamese twins can often be separated, allowing them to lead “normal” lives.
If the twins are minors and do not share vital organs, separation surgery may be successful.
The two girls, Anna Grace and Hope Elizabeth, were born on December 29, 2016, via Caesarean section.
The Siamese twins weighed 4.4 kilograms. After several tests and X-rays, doctors concluded that it was possible to separate the twins.
However, the risk was high.
The twins were joined at the chest and abdomen. They also shared one large blood vessel that connected their hearts.
This particular surgery took over a year to prepare for. The doctors met several times to discuss and develop strategies, with the overall goal of minimizing potential complications.
And finally, the day came. More than 75 specialists from eight different departments were involved in the operation.
After seven hours of prayer and fear, the big moment arrived. The parents walked into the hospital room to see their daughters and found them in two different cribs.
Jill Richards, the twins’ mother, couldn’t believe it.
“We’ve been thinking and praying for this day for almost two years. It’s an indescribable feeling to see our girls in two separate beds,” she said