Doctors at AIIMS Delhi have achieved a remarkable medical milestone by successfully performing a rare surgery on a 17-year-old boy to remove two extra lower limbs attached to his abdomen.
The condition, known as an incomplete parasitic twin, occurs when an underdeveloped twin remains attached to the host and survives by drawing nutrients from the host’s body.
Dr. Asuri Krishna, Chief Surgeon at AIIMS Delhi, explained the complexity of the case: “An incomplete parasitic twin is a twin that has not fully formed but continues to feed off the host. The challenge in surgery is identifying and cutting off its blood and nerve supply while ensuring there are no vital organ attachments. Fortunately, in this case, there was no major connection with the liver, intestines, or colon.”
The surgery posed significant difficulties due to the intricate blood and nerve connections between the parasitic limbs and the host’s body.
Dr. Maneesh Singhal from the Burn & Plastic Surgery department at AIIMS Delhi highlighted the complexity: “The twin was quite large and, as revealed by CT scans and ultrasounds, had a significant internal spread. It contained over 1.5 liters of blood, leading to sudden blood loss during surgery. Fortunately, there were no complications, and the procedure was successful.”
Dr. VK Bansal, Professor in the Surgery Department at AIIMS Delhi, recalled the team’s initial concerns: “Our primary worry was whether the parasitic limb had any critical connection to organs like the heart, liver, or intestines, as that would have made the surgery far riskier.”
Despite the challenges, the surgery was a success, and the patient is now recovering well. Dr. Krishna shared, “The patient, around 16-17 years old, is doing very well post-surgery and is extremely happy with the outcome.”
The medical team also reflected on the emotional toll of the condition. Dr. Bansal expressed sympathy for the boy’s struggle: “It is heartbreaking that he had to live with this condition for so many years. Unfortunately, our society often fails to support families dealing with such medical challenges.”
