Indian Surgeons Successfully Remove Parasitic Twins From Infant’s Abdomen
Gurugram, Haryana – In a rare and complex surgery, doctors at Fortis Memorial Research Institute in gurugram, India, have successfully removed two malformed foetuses from the abdomen of a 20-day-old baby girl. The infant,born as part of a triplet pregnancy,had been suffering from a condition known as foetus in foetu,were a non-viable twin develops inside the body of its sibling.The case highlights the increasing, though infrequent, instances of this parasitic twin phenomenon being identified and treated in India. While often diagnosed during pregnancy, these twins can sometimes remain undetected until infancy or even adulthood, continuing to grow and possibly causing complications.
“The surgery was challenging but the baby is healthy and doing well,” said Dr.Anand Sinha, a paediatric surgeon who led the operation. The infant was discharged from the hospital a month ago and has shown no complications thus far, according to Dr. sinha.
The baby was admitted in July with a bloated abdomen, irritability, and difficulty feeding, as the parasitic twins were compressing her stomach. Scans revealed two tumour-like shapes within her abdomen. Due to the baby’s initial dehydration and malnutrition, surgery was delayed until she could be stabilized over two days.
A team of approximately 15 doctors then performed the two-hour operation, utilizing specialized equipment due to the infant’s small size. The foetuses were intricately connected to organs including the liver, kidneys, and intestines, requiring meticulous extraction to avoid damage to vital structures. Throughout the procedure, the baby’s temperature and blood loss were closely monitored.
“We also had to make sure that there wasn’t too much blood loss,” Dr. Anand explained.
This prosperous surgery follows a tragic case earlier this year in Kolkata, where a three-day-old baby died a day after undergoing surgery to remove two malformed foetuses.In February,doctors in Maharashtra also successfully removed two foetuses from the abdomen of a three-day-old infant.
Dr. Anand noted that while these malformed foetuses are typically not cancerous, their continued growth can lead to various health problems. He added that parasitic twins are occasionally discovered in adults if the condition goes undiagnosed during infancy. The recovery period following surgery is critical, as infection or other complications could be fatal for the child.
