The doctors also must consider the possibility of reconstructive surgery and the social and learning issues the twins may have to face after they are separated. Due to advances in neuroimaging, neuroanesthesia, and neurosurgical techniques, successful separation operations have become more common. Physical traits like joined brain tissue, shared arteries and veins, as well as defects in the skull and dura mater complicate a separation operation.Neuroimaging especially plays an important role because it is imperative in surgical planning to understand the shared vascular anatomy—including the brain parenchyma, calvaria, and dura mater—because separating shared vessels can lead to thrombosis, air embolism, cerebral infarction, and hemorrhage. Technologies such as CT scans, MRIs, and angiography are used to map the shared vascular structures. Cases
Emilie and Elisabeth Stoll were born on January 17, 1912. Their parents exhibited them until their death in July 1912. Their cause of death is unknown, but they were probably weakened by the stress of travelling and exhibition. Rodney and Roger Brodie were born in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1951. In December 1952 a medical team led by neurosurgeon Oscar Sugar attempted to separate the 15-month old twins in a surgery that lasted 12 hours. During surgery, the doctors discovered that the twins shared the superior sagittal sinus, the canal that drains blood from the brain to the heart. This vessel was retained by Rodney Brodie. Both twins survived the surgery, although Roger did not regain consciousness and died 34 days later.
Another study found that for craniopagus twins, their connection to each other is comparable to our normal appendages and that their bodies have obvious overlapping physically and psychologically. Because most cases of craniopagus twins are unique, the research outlining general connections between craniopagus twins is limited. However, this example provides insight into the effects of a union between twins who essentially share the same sensory relay system in the thalamus. History
Conjoined twinning is one of the oldest known birth defects in history and examples with humans fascination with twins is extremely evident throughout historical literature. Although there are cases of conjoined twins dating back to as early as the 10th century, it was not until 1491 that the first case was documented. Apart from that, Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographia universalis provides the true first account of craniopagus twins who happened to live for ten years, exceeding many expectations during that time. He describes the set of twins as being a unique malformation and a punishment from their mothers mistake. In French barber surgeon Ambroise Paré’s 16th-century book, On Monsters and Marvels, various types of "supernatural" twinning are illustrated and described as "monstrous and marvelous creatures that proceed from the judgment of God", suggesting that conjoined twins and specifically craniopagus twins were viewed as literal monsters in the 16th century. See also
Conjoined twins
Parasitic twin
Twin

References


== External links ==