Baby with rare form of conjoined twinning born in Iraq’s Anbar governorate

ANBAR — In a rare medical case, a baby with a rare form of conjoined twinning, where two heads are attached to a single body, was born at Al-Qaim Hospital in Iraq’s Anbar governorate, health officials announced Saturday.

The Anbar Health Directorate confirmed that the birth took place following a cesarean section performed by a specialized medical team. The baby, born with a rare form of conjoined twinning known as dicephalic parapagus, has two heads attached to a single body—a rare and complex form of conjoined twinning compared to cases where two bodies are fused together.

“The baby is in good condition,” the directorate stated, adding that “the newborn was immediately transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit for close monitoring and specialized care.”

The case began when the hospital’s women’s consultation unit received a pregnant woman in labor. After necessary medical examinations, Dr. Shatha Abdullah, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist, decided to proceed with an urgent cesarean section.

Following the delivery, pediatric specialist Dr. Aws Abdullah assisted in the immediate care of the baby, who was quickly moved to the neonatal unit. The Anbar Health Directorate described the birth as one of the rarest globally, noting the team’s success in delivering and stabilizing the infant.

While the baby’s future prognosis remains uncertain, doctors are optimistic, closely monitoring the newborn’s condition in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. The birth has been hailed as an achievement by the medical team.

Dicephalic parapagus is a specific form of conjoined twinning where two heads are attached to a single body. This condition differs from other types of conjoined twins, which may involve various forms of bodily connection. Conjoined twins are a rare form of monoamniotic twins, with a global incidence estimated at approximately 1.5 per 100,000 births.

In Iraq, several cases of conjoined twins have been reported, including the successful separation of Iraqi twins Omar and Ali on Jan. 12, 2023, at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. The twins were joined at the lower chest and abdomen, sharing vital organs such as the liver, bile ducts, and intestines. The complex procedure took 11 hours, involved six stages, and required the expertise of a team of 27 consultants, specialists, and support staff.