3. What are conjoined twins?
Conjoined twins are identical twins that have not split
properly after fertilization, they share a body and may
share vital organs.
Identical twins are created from a single fertilized egg.
If the egg does not separate within 12 days, it will not
split completely.
Instead of creating two separate embryos, the two
embryos will remain attached, causing the babies to
grow into one another.
4. Types of Conjoined Twins
Conjoined twins are classified by how they are connected to one
another
Each case is different and even if 2 sets of twins share the same
conjoined surface each set of conjoined twins has a unique internal
structure
9. A skull of craniopagus
conjoined twins
Pygopagus conjoined
twins
10. What if… ?
You find out you (or your spouse) are
pregnant with conjoined twins….
Do you….
• Have an abortion?
or
• Take the pregnancy to term?
11. Abort the pregnancy…
Think of all the surgeries they will need to have
later on…prevent their pain
They would always be made fun of
Would never be “Normal” children
Not fair to the children
There would be extremely high medical costs
after they were born
12. When choosing to go through with the
pregnancy…
They are your children and you will love them no
matter what
They at least deserve a chance at survival and a
happy life
13. Once the twins are born
Do you choose to separate them?
No…
They don’t have privacy, and probably would have a
hard time finding a job
Relationship issues
Will you be treated as one person instead of two
In some cases they’re healthier together
Have to learn to get along and adjust to the world in
their circumstance
Some feel that they were meant to be this way
What if one gets sick and possibly dies do you
separate them to save the other?
14. Separation
Separation of conjoined twins is usually performed at a
very young age.
In some cases the brain or the heart must be separated
in order to provide each twin with vital organs.
15. If separated….
One of the twins dies during or soon after
surgery
The living twin may feel guilt later in life
Wake up from surgery and realize your other
half isn’t there
other psychological issues
Psychological problems for parents
leaving hospital with only one child
16. If separated…
Both twins could die from complications to
the surgery
Sometimes there is one twin that has a greater
chance of survival
Still, they both may die in the end
How do you decide which one gets to live?
17. If separated…
Both twins survive the separation
Unlikely that both will be completely healthy
and happy
One may be fine while other has major
complications
18. Summary:
Conjoined twins are identical twins form
by same zygote.
They classify based on the join.
They can be seperated if there organs are
not joined.
Can not seperated when they are sharing
organs or systems.