Conjoined twins, right atrial isomerism, and sequential segmental analysis

Abstract

Three cases of twins conjoined across the chest were examined. In one set, one twin showed right atrial isomerism and the other showed the usual atrial arrangement. The other two sets showed the usual atrial arrangement in both twins. The associated cardiac anomalies were diverse, ranging from atrioventricular septal defects to absent atrioventricular connections. Sequential segmental analysis was used successfully in each case to classify the complex cardiac anomalies. The first step was the recognition of the atrial arrangement. This was easily achieved despite the complexity of the intracardiac morphology.