Craniopagus Twins Case Study

In 1987 Ben Carson traveled to Germany to meet a couple, whose infant twins were conjoined at the head. Ben Carson tells the couple that he can separate the twins, but there’s a risk of losing one or both of the twins. Craniopagus twins are twins that are fused at the cranium. This condition affects 10-20 for every million of babies born. The union in craniopagus twins may occur on any portion of the calvarium, but does not include either the face or the foramen magnum. The thorax and abdomen are separate and each twin has its own umbilical cord. The twins weren’t expected to walk or sit up.
Ben Carson’s plan for the twin’s separation consisted of vigorous procedures. The people needed to conduct this operation successfully consisted of: a team of seven pediatric anesthesiologists, five neurosurgeons, two cardiac surgeons, five plastic surgeons and an array of nurses and technicians (a total of 50 people in the operating room) For several months, he got together a team of doctors and nurses and rehearsed the operation. Ben Carson said in his interview,” during the surgery, Ben Carson offered to allow his boss to make the crucial cut at the vein that conjoined the twins. Ben said in his interview,”Part of me thought, maybe I should take the knife. If things go badly it would be terrible for the young doctor’s career,” Long recalled this month. “But I also know that if this was a success, if things go well, it would make his reputation, would make him famous, that people would grow …show more content…
The twins were ready for recovery. The operation was a success, because not only the separation was complete within the hour used to stop their hearts, repair their veins, and separate their heads from each other, the twins each had their own brain, which made this operation possible. Although the separation was a success, the twins each experienced developmental complications. They cannot eat or drink on their own and live in an assisted living