Tue Feb 25 12:40:34 UTC 2025: **AIIMS Doctors Successfully Separate Teen From ‘Parasitic’ Twin Limb**
**New Delhi, February 25, 2025** – Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi have performed a rare and complex surgery, successfully separating a 17-year-old boy from a fully developed parasitic twin limb attached to his abdomen since birth. The surgery, lasting two-and-a-half hours, involved a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, radiologists, plastic surgeons, and anesthesiologists.
The extremely rare anomaly, one of only 40 reported globally in medical literature, presented unique challenges. The parasitic twin limb, which had its own blood supply from a branch of the internal mammary artery, was fully developed and the boy could feel sensation in it. A large abdominal cyst further complicated the procedure.
Chief Surgeon Dr. Asuri Krishna explained that while conjoined twins are rare (occurring in about 1 in 50,000 to 100,000 births), parasitic twins, where one twin is underdeveloped and dependent on the other, are exceptionally uncommon. The boy, who had dropped out of school due to social stigma, recovered remarkably well, eating on the first day post-surgery and being discharged on the fourth.
The surgery involved carefully separating the limb and removing the cyst, which was attached to the abdominal wall, bowel, and liver. The procedure also revealed an unusually high bladder, requiring additional attention.
The successful outcome is a significant medical achievement, highlighting AIIMS’s expertise in handling complex surgical cases. The boy’s identity has been withheld to protect his privacy.
First Piper 