Surgeons at AIIMS hospital successfully tackled the intricate surgery despite limited global precedents, transforming the boy’s future and mental well-being.
Indian Surgeons Successfully Remove Rare 'Parasitic' Twin from Teenager
Indian Surgeons Successfully Remove Rare 'Parasitic' Twin from Teenager
A groundbreaking surgery in Delhi has allowed a 17-year-old boy to reclaim his life after the removal of a rare 'parasitic' twin connected to his abdomen.
The operation, which took two-and-a-half hours, revealed a complex interconnection between the boy and the parasitic twin, marking a significant medical achievement.
In a remarkable medical case, a 17-year-old boy from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, underwent an intricate surgery to remove a 'parasitic' twin that had been attached to his abdomen. Hosted by his body, the parasitic twin was an underdeveloped conjoined twin, equipped with its own set of limbs and pelvis, relying entirely on the teenager for survival. Medical professionals describe such cases as exceedingly rare, with occurrences at less than one per 100,000 births.
The surgical operation took place at the renowned All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and lasted for two and a half hours. Leading the surgery, Dr. Asuri Krishna explained that managing a patient of the teenager's age presented unprecedented challenges. "This case is one of a kind, as documented medical literature covers only 40-50 cases, mostly performed on younger children," he noted.
Parasitic twins arise when one fetus partially develops while attached to another during gestation. In this situation, the teenager had two fully formed legs along with buttocks and external genitalia, which weighed nearly 15 kilograms and were sustained by a chest artery. Surprisingly, these parasitic limbs were capable of experiencing pain and tactile sensations.
Pre-surgery scans indicated that the parasitic twin was directly attached to the boy’s breastbone and drew blood from a vessel within his chest, but there was minimal integration with major organs, like the liver or kidneys. Additionally, doctors discovered a large cyst in the teenager's abdomen.
The surgical team executed the procedure in two stages: first removing the parasitic twin and then addressing the cystic mass amongst the surrounding organs. A diverse group of specialists, including radiologists, anaesthetists, and plastic surgeons, collaborated to carry out the intricate surgery, which involved carefully separating the shared blood vessels, nerves, and tissues to avoid damaging any of the host's organs.
During the operation, the teen's blood pressure plummeted dangerously low as 30-40% of his blood supply shifted to the parasitic twin, but the medical team quickly responded, stabilizing him efficiently.
Remarkably, the teen was discharged from the hospital four days later without complications, marking a huge milestone in his recovery. Prior to the surgery, he had faced social stigma and bullying due to his unusual appearance, leading to withdrawal from physical activity and schooling. Expressing his newfound optimism, he shared with the Indian Express, "I hope to study and obtain a job. A new world has opened up to me." The surgery not only transformed his physical health but also paved the way for a brighter and more engaged future.
In a remarkable medical case, a 17-year-old boy from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, underwent an intricate surgery to remove a 'parasitic' twin that had been attached to his abdomen. Hosted by his body, the parasitic twin was an underdeveloped conjoined twin, equipped with its own set of limbs and pelvis, relying entirely on the teenager for survival. Medical professionals describe such cases as exceedingly rare, with occurrences at less than one per 100,000 births.
The surgical operation took place at the renowned All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and lasted for two and a half hours. Leading the surgery, Dr. Asuri Krishna explained that managing a patient of the teenager's age presented unprecedented challenges. "This case is one of a kind, as documented medical literature covers only 40-50 cases, mostly performed on younger children," he noted.
Parasitic twins arise when one fetus partially develops while attached to another during gestation. In this situation, the teenager had two fully formed legs along with buttocks and external genitalia, which weighed nearly 15 kilograms and were sustained by a chest artery. Surprisingly, these parasitic limbs were capable of experiencing pain and tactile sensations.
Pre-surgery scans indicated that the parasitic twin was directly attached to the boy’s breastbone and drew blood from a vessel within his chest, but there was minimal integration with major organs, like the liver or kidneys. Additionally, doctors discovered a large cyst in the teenager's abdomen.
The surgical team executed the procedure in two stages: first removing the parasitic twin and then addressing the cystic mass amongst the surrounding organs. A diverse group of specialists, including radiologists, anaesthetists, and plastic surgeons, collaborated to carry out the intricate surgery, which involved carefully separating the shared blood vessels, nerves, and tissues to avoid damaging any of the host's organs.
During the operation, the teen's blood pressure plummeted dangerously low as 30-40% of his blood supply shifted to the parasitic twin, but the medical team quickly responded, stabilizing him efficiently.
Remarkably, the teen was discharged from the hospital four days later without complications, marking a huge milestone in his recovery. Prior to the surgery, he had faced social stigma and bullying due to his unusual appearance, leading to withdrawal from physical activity and schooling. Expressing his newfound optimism, he shared with the Indian Express, "I hope to study and obtain a job. A new world has opened up to me." The surgery not only transformed his physical health but also paved the way for a brighter and more engaged future.
