Preparing for the Rare Birth of Craniopagus Conjoined Twins

Abstract

Conjoined twins are rare, estimated to be 1 per 200,000 live births. Conjoined twins are characterized on the basis of the location of fusion. Ventral-side fusion is the most common (87%), whereas craniopagus is one of the rarest forms (3%). The fused anatomy is almost always associated with congenital anomalies. The type of attachment affects birth planning and neonatal resuscitation and stabilization. Advances in prenatal care and imaging have led to early diagnosis of conjoined twins. This timely detection enables health care providers to plan for technical difficulties that can be predicted with birth and manage the range of congenital anomalies.