Anesthesia for repair of gastroschisis in thoracopagus twins: a case report.

The first pair of live conjoined twins in Fiji were delivered in June 2004. Their union was unexpected and in addition they had gastroschisis requiring urgent surgery. With limited resources available there was uncertainty about the degree of sharing of the major organs. Whilst the media speculated on separation overseas, the local team of doctors were faced with a rare emergency. Surgical repair of the abdominal defect was performed using a combined general and regional anesthesia technique. The thoracopagus twins died 3 days postoperatively in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Perioperative management is discussed.