Pygopagus Conjoined Twins: A Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring Schema

Authors

Barrett P. Cromeens, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Jennifer L. McKinney, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Jeffrey R. Leonard, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Lance S. Governale, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Judy L. Brown, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Christina M. Henry, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Marc A. Levitt, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Richard J. Wood, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Gail E. Besner, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Monica P. Islam, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

3-1-2017

Journal

Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology

Volume

34

Issue

2

DOI

10.1097/WNP.0000000000000343

Keywords

Conjoined twins; Imperforate anus; Neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring; Pygopagus

Abstract

© 2016 by the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society. Summary: Conjoined twins occur in up to 1 in 50,000 live births with approximately 18% joined in a pygopagus configuration at the buttocks. Twins with this configuration display symptoms and carry surgical risks during separation related to the extent of their connection which can include anorectal, genitourinary, vertebral, and neural structures. Neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring for these cases has been discussed in the literature with variable utility. The authors present a case of pygopagus twins with fused spinal cords and imperforate anus where the use of neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring significantly impacted surgical decision-making in division of these critical structures.

APA Citation

Cromeens, B., McKinney, J., Leonard, J., Governale, L., Brown, J., Henry, C., Levitt, M., Wood, R., Besner, G., & Islam, M. (2017). Pygopagus Conjoined Twins: A Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring Schema. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 34 (2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/WNP.0000000000000343