Indian Doctors Remove Teen's 'Parasitic' Twin in Rare, Life-Changing Surgery

• Feb 26, 2025

Delhi Surgeons Successfully Extract Teen’s Underdeveloped Twin in Complex Procedure

A team of doctors in India has performed a groundbreaking surgery on a 17-year-old boy, successfully removing his rare "parasitic" twin from his abdomen. The procedure, conducted at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi, has transformed the teenager's life, giving him hope for a brighter future.

A parasitic twin is an underdeveloped conjoined twin that depends entirely on its host for survival. This condition is exceptionally rare, occurring in fewer than one in 100,000 births.

The teenager, hailing from Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, had a fully developed extra set of limbs, a pelvis, and external genitalia attached to his abdomen, sustained by a major artery from his chest. The additional body parts weighed nearly 15 kg and had sensation, responding to pain, touch, and temperature changes.

A Complex and Rare Surgical Challenge

The surgical team, led by Dr. Asuri Krishna, faced significant challenges due to the patient’s age. "Only 40-50 cases of parasitic twins have been documented in medical literature, and these surgeries have typically been performed on young children," Dr. Krishna told the BBC.

With limited medical references to rely on, the doctors had to depend on their expertise, intuition, and skill. Scans revealed that the parasitic twin was connected to the boy’s breastbone and received blood from a vessel in his chest. However, it had minimal connections to critical organs like the liver and kidneys. Doctors also discovered a large cyst within the teenager’s abdomen.

The surgery was performed in two stages—first, the removal of the parasitic twin, followed by the extraction of the cystic mass from surrounding organs. A team of specialists, including radiologists, anesthetists, and plastic surgeons, completed the procedure in just two-and-a-half hours.

“A complex network of shared blood vessels, nerves, and tissues had to be carefully separated to avoid damaging the host’s organs,” Dr. Krishna explained. During the operation, the boy’s blood pressure dropped dangerously as 30-40% of his blood was flowing into the parasitic twin, but the medical team was prepared and successfully stabilized him.

A New Beginning for the Teenager

Remarkably, the teen recovered quickly and was discharged just four days after being admitted. He is now in good health, with no complications from the surgery.

For years, the teenager endured ridicule and isolation due to his unusual appearance, which significantly impacted his mental well-being. He was often the subject of gossip in his neighborhood, struggled with social interactions, and had to drop out of school in the eighth grade.

Following the successful surgery, he expressed his excitement for a fresh start. "I couldn't travel or participate in physical activities," he told The Indian Express. "Now, I feel free. I want to study, get a job, and live a normal life. A new world has opened up for me."

This remarkable medical feat has not only transformed his physical health but also restored his confidence, allowing him to envision a future filled with opportunities.