Incidental Intraoperative Diagnosis of Term Conjoined Twins: A Case Series

Abstract

Conjoined twins (Siamese twins) represent the rarest form of twin pregnancy. Reported here are two rare cases of conjoined term twins presented to the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology within 3 months. The first case, 32 years of gravida 6 parity 5 referred from periphery after full trial of labour following multi-organ dysfunction and term intrauterine dead twins. Intraoperatively it was dead conjoined thoraco-omphalopagus females. The patient died after 3 days following multiorgan dysfunction syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The second case, 22 years gravida 2 parity 1 also referred from periphery in second stage of labour with diagnosis of 39 weeks intrauterine dead twins with obstructed labour, delivered by caesarean with intraoperative conjoined dead females of thoracophagus type. Twins are high-risk pregnancy. This rare diagnosis with complications could have been prevented by regular antenatal checkups, ultrasonography performed by radiologists and early referral antenatally in labour along with multidisciplinary approach.

Keywords

• conjoined; monozygotic twinning; siamese twins; twins.