OBJECTIVE: Craniopagus parasiticus is an extremely rare condition. The first attempt to separate such twins was performed in the Dominican Republic in 2004. The infant died 7 hours after surgery. The aim of this report is to present a case in which surgical separation was successfully performed on February 18, 2005. In February 2006, the child was still alive and in relatively good health.
METHODS: The authors operated on a patient with craniopagus parasiticus at Benha Pediatric Hospital in Egypt, 45 km north of Cairo. The child was 10 months old when the surgery was performed. By minimizing the time of surgery and adequate control of intraoperative bleeding, a successful surgical separation was achieved. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and computed tomographic angiography provided the information necessary to perform surgery.
RESULTS: The child underwent operation at the age of 10 months; the duration of surgery was 9 hours. Bleeding was the most serious problem, with the child receiving four liters of blood. The main arterial supply to the parasite was via the middle cerebral artery and was ligated in the Sylvian fissure. Bleeding, however, was mostly venous and was mainly controlled by diathermy and thrombin soaked packs of Surgicel, as well as clipping. After separation of the parasitic head, the dura was repaired using artificial dural grafts. Free bone flaps from the parasite were used to cover the osseous defect in the autosite. Skin flaps from the parasite were also used to cover the cranium.
CONCLUSION: This is the second case of craniopagus parasiticus in which separation was attempted. The first patient, operated on in the Dominican Republic, died 7 hours after surgery. In the present case, the child is still alive and without neurological deficit.