Conjoined Twins

Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies are joined in utero. A rare phenomenon, the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50,000 births to 1 in 100,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence in Southwest Asia and Africa
Two contradicting theories exist to explain the origins of conjoined twins. The older theory is fission, in which the fertilized egg splits partially. The second and more generally accepted theory is fusion, in which a fertilized egg completely separates, but stem cells (which search for similar cells) find like-stem cells on the other twin and fuse the twins together.
Meet Maria and Teresa Tapia, 19-month-old twins who were conjoined - until their separation surgery on Monday, Nov. 4,2011.The girls, from the Dominican Republic, were separated at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Angelica and Angelina Sabuco born in the Philippines and living in San Jose, California Twin sisters who had been joined at the chest are preparing to leave the hospital two weeks after surgery.Angelica and Angelina Sabuco have been recovering at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University since their November01,2011 operation.

Chilean Doctors Successfully Separate Conjoined Twins

 

An official at Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, said early Wednesday Dec 14,2011that the 10-month-old twins are in stable condition as teams of doctors work on them individually after they were separated.

Parents Jessica Navarrete and Roberto Paredes kept an anxious vigil at the Santiago hospital as doctors separated twins Maria Paz and Maria Jose at the thorax, stomach and pelvis.

Baby girl dies following separation from conjoined twin

A 10-month-old girl who was surgically separated from her conjoined twin died on Sunday Dec 18,2011 after suffering general organ failure, said the director of a Chilean children's hospital.

 

Twins born in Brazil with two heads, one heart

 

Conjoined twins have been born in Brazil with two heads, two functioning brains and two backbones - but a single heart.Doctors say separating the twins, named Jesus and Emanuel, is not currently an option because there is only one set of organs.They are being monitored by specialists to see how they develop.

 Jesus and Emanuel were born by Caesarean section weighing 9.9lbs (4.5kg) on Monday Dec 19,2011 morning in a small hospital in the northern state of Para.

Dr Neila Dahas, who is treating the newborns, said surgery was not being considered at the moment.
But she said separating the boys would be impossible because of the single set of organs - and that it was difficult to choose which head to remove because both brains were functioning well.