Anesthetic management of omphalopagus twins with pentalogy of Fallot undergoing separation surgery

Abstract

The management of conjoined twins has several special aspects, mostly linked to the parents of the twins, such as communication, ethics and trust issues. A multidisciplinary team approach plus high level of vigilance at each perioperative stage is required. Conjoined omphalopagus twins, aged one year, were planned for separation surgery. They had fused liver, fused portal and hepatic veins, and partially fused intestines. Patient B appeared with complications of pentalogy of Fallot (PoF). The patient also had polycythemia (hemoglobin 14.7 g/dL, hematocrit 50%). Radiological features showed anterior abdominal wall with images of interconnected intestinal system between the two. In thoracoabdominopagus conjoined twins, the possibility of shared circulation becomes important especially associated with injection of intravenous drugs. The goal of anesthesia in PoF is to maintain cardiac output by maintaining heart rate, contractility and preload; and preventing right to left shunting via ventricular septal defect (VSD). Induction can cause vasodilation and the resultant decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) can exacerbate right-to-left shunts. Monitoring end tidal CO2 (EtCO2) is needed. We present a report of anesthesia for such a case.