Caroline Kachmar

Types of Conjoined Twins

1. Thoracopagus Connected by the upper half of the trunk, through the chest wall from the thorax down to the umbilicus They usually share a heart Problems: - because they usually share a heart, there are a variety of heart and respiratory problems

2. Omphalopagus Attached by the trunk, usually at the abdomen, but the connection can range from the thorax down to the umbilicus. They usually share a liver, gastrointestinal or genitourinary functions Problems: - respiratory problems - frequent diarrhea

3. Pyopagus Joined at the pelvis They usually share a spinal cord Problems: - urinary infections are common - hemivertebrae (when one side of the vertebrae is incompletely developed)

4. Ischiopagus The spines are connected end-to-end at an 180 degree angle The twins usually have 4 legs but in some cases, they may only have 3 Problems: - bowel and kidney problems - arthritis on the knees and hips

5. Craniopagus Attached by the skulls In the case of Tatiana and Krista Hogan, the girls are attached by their thalamic bridge It is possible for them to both feel the same thing even if the action only happens to one of them Problems: - deformity of the skull base - deformity and displacement of the cerebrum - circulatory abnormality

6. Parapagus Connected at the abdomen and pelvis Usually do not share a heart Can have either two or three legs ch?v=7ZUzi0RhBpM&feat ure=youtu.be Problems: - heart problems - underdeveloped lungs - neural tube defects

7. Cephalopagus Joined from the top of the head down to the umbilicus, with a separate lower abdomen and pelvis Their faces can either be fused together facing each other or on opposite sides of the head Problems: - major malformations in the brain - impossible to survive