Anaesthesia for conjoined twins

Abstract

The oxyhaemoglobin saturation of a set of conjoined twins was measured before and during supplementary oxygen administration and inhalation anaesthesia to assess the extent to which oxygen given to one twin could maintain oxygenation in the other before separation. The process of anaesthesia revealed that although some oxygenated blood could cross over from one twin to the other, as measured at the f'mger by pulse oximetry, it was not adequate to support life after the cessation of respiration.