The baby was discharged a month ago and has been recovering well, with no complications reported so far.
Gurugram: In a major surgery success, doctors have successfully removed two “parasitic twins” growing inside the abdomen of a 20-day-old infant, a rare condition known as foetus in foetu, with fewer than 200 cases reported worldwide.
A parasitic twin happens when identical twins start to form from a single fertilised egg, but the division is incomplete or uneven. One twin develops normally, while the other fails to fully form and depends on the healthy twin’s body for survival.
In this case, the mother was pregnant with triplets, and two malformed foetuses developed inside the surviving baby.
The infant was admitted to Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, in July with a bloated abdomen, irritability, and feeding problems. “Scans showed two tumour-like masses, which turned out to be malformed foetuses,” said paediatric surgeon Dr Anand Sinha, who led the operation.
As the baby was dehydrated and malnourished, doctors first stabilised her before operating. A team of 15 specialists then performed a two-hour surgery using specialised equipment to avoid damage to the liver, kidneys, and intestines where the foetuses were attached. The baby was discharged a month ago and has been recovering well, with no complications reported so far.
“The recovery period is critical because infection or organ damage can be fatal at this age,” Dr Anand said.
Earlier this year, similar cases were reported in Maharashtra and Kolkata, the latter proving fatal for a newborn after surgery. Experts note that while foetus in foetu is sometimes detected during pregnancy, it can remain unnoticed until adulthood if symptoms do not appear early.
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