Coagulation changes in a siamese twin in SIRS after death of the other twin: a case study.

BACKGROUND

Conjoined twins represent a rare case of embryonic failure. Siamese twins' final outcome is usually associated with poor prognosis due to complications, among which the inflammatory and septic disturbances are often present.

CASE REPORT

The article describes Siamese twins of craniopagus type. One of the twins died of heart and aortic failure after 48 hours of life. The decision regarding surgical separation then became an emergency. At the same time laboratory results for the surviving twin I indicated steadily worsening coagulation functions and processes, which we believed were caused by the death of twin II, as well as by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

CONCLUSIONS

Due to vascular conjunction between the twins' brains' circulatory systems the sequenced progress of coagulopathy was noticed in the surviving twin.