Mwaba Kopa
Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Livingstone, Zambia
Lukundo Siame
Mulungushi University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Human Anatomy, Livingstone, Zambia
Michelo Haluuma Miyoba
Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Department of Surgery, Livingstone, Zambia; Mulungushi University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Science, Livingstone, Zambia
Hillary Sichila
Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Livingstone, Zambia
Pauline Kaluba
Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Livingstone, Zambia
Benson Malambo Hamooya
Mulungushi University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Hypertension, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Diabetes, and Dyslipidemia (HAND) Research Group, Livingstone, Zambia
Collins Mukubesa
Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Livingstone, Zambia
Walaza Phiri
Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Livingstone, Zambia; Mulungushi University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Science, Livingstone, Zambia
Sydney Mulamfu
Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Department of Radiology, Livingstone, Zambia
Chanda Kapoma
Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Livingstone, Zambia; Mulungushi University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Science, Livingstone, Zambia
Sepiso Kenias Masenga
Mulungushi University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Physiological Science, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Diabetes and Dyslipidemia (HAND) Research Group, Livingstone, Zambia
Abstract
Conjoined twins are a rare occurrence, affecting approximately 1.47 per 100,000 live births as a result of the incomplete splitting of the embryo in monochorionic monoamniotic pregnancies, after 13-14 days post-fertilization. Early prenatal diagnosis through ultrasound between 11 and 14 weeks is crucial for counseling and management decisions, including pregnancy termination or continuation with the support of a multidisciplinary team. We report a case of a 17-year-old primigravida referred in the third trimester with an ultrasound diagnosis of parapagus dicephalus dipus tribrachius conjoined twins. Delivery was by elective cesarean section, and the twins shared a single heart with three ventricles, two atria, a large atrial septal defect, and an incompetent atrioventricular valve. They died of sepsis on day 20 post-delivery. In our setting, anomaly scans during the second trimester are rarely or never performed, highlighting the need for routine early anomaly scans to enable timely intervention and improve outcomes in similar cases.
