Amrita Hospital, Kochi has successfully performed a rare and delicate surgery to remove a fetus in fetu—an extremely uncommon congenital condition in which a malformed twin becomes enclosed within the body of its normal twin during early embryonic development. Fewer than 1 in 5,00,000 births present this anomaly worldwide, making this case a remarkable medical milestone.
The condition was first diagnosed at the antenatal scanning done by Dr Vivek Krishnan, Dr Dhanya Keezhatoor, and Dr Sruthi Soman with the Department of Fetal Care.
Advanced prenatal imaging revealed an abnormal mass, prompting close monitoring and expert evaluation. Antenatal scans play a crucial role in identifying such complex conditions early, enabling timely intervention after birth.
After delivery, further imaging confirmed the presence of fetus-in-fetu as a non-viable twin entrapped inside the abdomen of the surviving infant. At just two months old, the baby girl underwent a complex open surgery at Amrita Hospital to remove the malformed fetus, which weighed 48.7 grams.
The rare procedure was led by an expert pediatric surgical team of Dr Mohan Abraham, Emeritus Professor, Pediatric Surgery; Dr. Aswin Prabhakaran, Associate Professor, Pediatric Surgery; Dr. Rekha Varghese, Anesthesiologist; Dr. Anju Anand and Steny Shaji, Physician Assistants.
The operation lasted nearly two hours and was completed without complications. The infant recovered well following the surgery and is reported to be in stable condition.
This successful intervention underscores Amrita Hospital, Kochi’s advanced capabilities in fetal medicine, pediatric surgery, and anesthesia, reaffirming its role as a leading centre for complex and rare pediatric conditions.
