The concept that twins do everything together has met a new standard.
Identical twin brothers Pablo Delcido, 21, and Julio Delcido, 21, underwent corresponding heart surgery on the same day they were diagnosed with Marfan syndrome.
The twins, who live in Dover, New Jersey, were warned about the risks of Marfan syndrome because most of their family members also have it, the twins told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview.
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“We are a family of five. Two older sisters are affected,” Julio Delcido said. “My brother doesn’t have many symptoms…but I have other family members who do. I think my whole family on my mother’s side.”
From left to right, Pablo Delcid and Julio Delcid celebrate Christmas with some of their family. (Pablo and Julio Delcido)
“It’s very genetic,” Pablo Delcido added. “When we were young and first diagnosed with this disease, no one knew what it was.”
He added: “Nobody even knew they had this disease until tests started coming in and saying, ‘Yes, this is very genetic. Everyone should get tested.’ He added:
What is Marfan syndrome?
Fox News Digital spoke to Dr. Benjamin Van Boxtel, chief of surgery at Morristown Medical Center’s Atlantic Aorta Center, about the condition in a separate interview. He operated on the twins.
The cardiovascular surgeon said Marfan syndrome is mostly genetic, but it can also occur randomly. This is said to be a defect in the gene that produces connective tissue in the human body.
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“This is a widespread defect in these connective tissues, so it can affect different parts of the body,” he said. “So this could be anywhere from your eyes to your spine to your heart.”
“The most dangerous symptom that can occur with Marfan syndrome is dilatation of the aorta, especially the root,” he added.
Dr. Van Boxtel said that in Marfan syndrome, the aortic root can become dilated or enlarged, which can cause an “instantly fatal” laceration or rupture.
Van Boxtel holds up a “tubular graft” model used during valve-sparing root surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon “replaces the aortic root and manually stitches the leaflets within the graft together, leaflet by leaflet.” (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
“Alternatively, it could cause something called an aortic dissection, which is also potentially very fatal and can be a surgical emergency,” he said. “Unfortunately, many people with Marfan syndrome die this way.”
Many of these people don’t even know they have the syndrome, Van Boxtel points out.
Valve-sparing root surgery performed before dissection of the dilated aorta can be a life-saving procedure.
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Van Boxtel said Marfan syndrome can be difficult to detect because it is often characterized by common symptoms such as chest pain, blurred vision, and being tall and with long limbs.
“When you have an aneurysm, [from a] “When your aorta dilates, it’s usually asymptomatic, which means you don’t feel anything at all. You feel perfectly fine…Aneurysmal disease is silent and asymptomatic. This is a very dangerous “There are cases,” he said.
From left to right, Julio Delcid, mother of the twins, Betulia Miranda, and Pablo Delcid pose for a selfie. (Pablo and Julio Delcido)
“There’s not much you can feel when you’re growing to this state,” Pablo Delcido said.
He added: “What we didn’t know was that our bodies were changing…obviously our height, eyesight, arms, legs, leg length, and even our breasts were changing. ” he added.
Same day surgery
The twins’ mother, Vetulia Miranda, underwent emergency surgery on October 8, 2023 after experiencing an aortic dissection, which the boys said was “excruciating” for her.
After their mother’s successful surgery, the twins decided to undergo preventive surgery with Dr. Van Boxtel. However, their only request was to perform the surgery together.
“Of course they say, ‘Can we go at the same time?'” the doctor said with a laugh.
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Van Boxtel, a father of twins himself, said the double surgery was “like nothing I’ve ever done before”.
“I’ve done this procedure hundreds of times, but to do it on a twin brother in a row was an experience, that’s for sure,” he said.
Pablo Delcido was born five minutes before his older brother, so it was decided that he would be born first, followed a few hours later by Julio Delcido.
Julio Delcido (left) and Pablo Delcido underwent heart surgery on January 5, 2024. (Pablo and Julio Delcido)
“We always do everything together,” Pablo Delcido said. “We live together and go through everything together…I never thought we would be able to go through the surgery together, but everything went well.” [was] success. “
The twins agreed they felt “safer” having the surgery together.
“I feel like I can’t afford to lose that person,” Julio Delcido said. “They stick to you side by side.”
“Aneurysmal disease is silent and asymptomatic. This is extremely dangerous.”
Pablo Delcido added: “It’s almost like your intuition is saying, ‘Okay, if I’m successful, he’s going to be successful.'”
On the day of the surgery, January 5, 2024, Van Boxtel and his team used color-coded ankle bracelets to distinguish the twins from each other.
“This is like the ultimate twin study,” the surgeon said, noting that double-heart surgery on twins is rare, especially at the young age of 21.
Van Boxtel said it was “weird” when he realized his brother had the same heart.
“We knew it could be different inside, but it ended up being exactly the same,” he said.
Julio Delcid said he was “shocked” that a surgeon like Van Boxtel was able to undertake both surgeries in quick succession.
“He did his best,” he said. “He replaced the aneurysm and saved the aortic valve…We were so grateful.”
About Marfan
Van Boxtel said Marfan syndrome affects about 1 in 5,000 people and affects men and women alike.
“About 75% of those cases are genetic,” he said. “But about 25% of Marfan cases are actually not genetic. They’re not parentally derived. They’re naturally occurring mutations.”
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In addition to dilatation of the aortic root (enlargement of the aorta) or narrow dissection (tear in the artery), patients are also at risk of valve leakage, which can lead to heart failure symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and inability to move. They can perform normal athletic activities, Van Boxtel said.
Because Marfan syndrome is often difficult to detect on the surface, the Delcid twins emphasized the importance of getting tested, especially for people within the Latino and Hispanic communities.
Julio Delcido said people at risk for Marfan syndrome should “take the time to get tested.” (Pablo and Julio Delcido)
“This is pretty deadly,” Pablo Delcido said. “We almost lost our mother and it was a traumatic experience.”
Julio Delcido reiterated that people with symptoms of Marfan syndrome or a family history of Marfan syndrome should learn how best to prevent aneurysms and contact their cardiology team.
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“It is very important to take the time and opportunity to receive the best possible treatment, because if you wait, the consequences will come later,” he said.
“There’s nothing to fear. Take the time to examine yourself and get the help you need to live a better life.”
Looking forward with new hope
After overcoming the stress of heart surgery, the twins said they were looking forward to going outside, playing sports and exercising more than before.
“Both of their valves were saved,” Van Boxtel said. “In the end, there was no leak. We had everything we needed for a very successful repair and will continue to live a normal, healthy life.”
“This is a very serious problem…but there are preventative measures, and if you get infected at the right time, they can be very effective.”
“I hope these valves last a very long time, if not a lifetime. They’re much better now than they were when I was walking around with an aneurysm,” he said. ” he said.
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Mr Van Boxtel thanked the team who carried out the complex same-day surgery on a young man with “his whole life ahead of him”.
Dr. Benjamin Van Boxtel is a cardiovascular surgeon and the surgical director of the Atlantic Aorta Center at Morristown Medical Center. (Atlantic Health System)
The Marfan Foundation has a variety of resources for patients at all stages of their condition, the doctor said.
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“I can’t stress enough how important it is for patients with an aneurysm to see a surgeon and team that they feel comfortable with,” he said.
“This is a very serious problem…but there are prevention methods, and if you get infected at the right time, you can have great success.”
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