First Conjoined Twins to Be Separated by Surgery
The separation of conjoined twins is a significant medical milestone, with the first successful surgical procedure occurring on September 17, 1953, involving Carolyn Anne Mouton and Catherine Anne Mouton from Lafayette, Louisiana. Conjoined twins, often referred to as Siamese twins, arise from a single fertilized egg that fails to divide completely, resulting in two individuals who are physically connected. The Mouton sisters were joined at the lower back and underwent surgery at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans just eight days after their birth. This procedure marked a pioneering moment in the field of surgery, utilizing modern techniques for the first time. While the separation of conjoined twins can involve significant risks, especially when shared organs are involved, advancements in medical technology since 1953 have improved the outcomes for such surgeries. Remarkably, operations to separate twins joined at the skull are now possible, despite the inherent dangers posed to vital brain tissue. The ongoing evolution in surgical practices continues to provide hope for families facing the challenges of conjoined twinning.
First Conjoined Twins to Be Separated by Surgery
First Conjoined Twins to Be Separated by Surgery
The first conjoined twins to be surgically separated were Carolyn Anne Mouton and Catherine Anne Mouton of Lafayette, Louisiana, on September 17, 1953. Conjoined twins, more commonly known as Siamese twins, are identical twins who develop from a single fertilized ovum that does not divide properly and leaves the two babies physically joined in some manner. The separation of the Mouton girls, joined at the lower back, took place at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, eight days after their birth. It became the first successful procedure of its kind that used modern surgical techniques. Although separating conjoined twins still remains a risky process, because the two individuals often share a critical internal organ or organs, there have been many advancements since the Mouton surgery in 1953. Today, even twins joined at the skull can be separated, despite the risk to vital brain tissue.