In brief
A 17-year-old in Delhi underwent a rare surgery to remove his parasitic twin, which had fully developed limbs and weighed nearly 15kg. The operation took two hours, involved a team of specialists, and has significantly improved the teen's quality of life.
In a groundbreaking medical feat, doctors in Delhi, India, successfully performed a surgery on a 17-year-old boy to remove his "parasitic" twin, which was attached to his abdomen. Parasitic twins are rare, developing improperly and relying entirely on their host for survival, with fewer than one case reported per 100,000 births. The teenager had an extra set of limbs and pelvis, weighing about 15kg. Dr. Asuri Krishna, who led the operation at Aiims hospital, explained that the surgery presented unique challenges due to the boy's age and the limited medical literature available on such cases. The team used their skills and judgment to navigate the delicate procedure, which lasted around two and a half hours. From scans, they identified that while the parasitic twin was connected to a vessel in the boy's chest, it had minimal connections to vital organs. The operation was conducted in two stages: first, they removed the parasitic twin, and second, extracted a cyst in the boy's abdomen. Despite a brief drop in blood pressure during the surgery, the medical team quickly stabilized him. The boy was discharged just four days later, healthy and without complications.Previously, the teenager faced ridicule and social isolation due to his unusual condition, having even dropped out of school. Now, he expresses hope for a vibrant future, stating, "A new world has opened up to me," as he looks forward to studying and finding a job.
