The Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal has once again demonstrated excellence in handling complex medical cases by successfully performing an extremely rare and challenging surgery.
The case involved a parasitic twin, a condition in which an incompletely developed twin fetus was attached to the skull and neck of a living child. A parasitic twin is a rare anomaly that occurs when two fetuses begin to develop in the womb, but one stops growing midway and remains dependent on the other for survival. This underdeveloped fetus is termed a "parasitic twin" because it cannot survive on its own and relies entirely on its better-developed twin.
The case concerned a three-year-old girl from Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh, who had a fleshy mass at the back of her neck since birth. After being admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery at AIIMS Bhopal, she underwent MRI and CT scans. The investigations revealed that a limb and pelvic bones of the underdeveloped body were attached to her skull and spine, and were closely linked to the brainstem-one of the most delicate parts of the brain. Given the complexity of the case, an interdisciplinary meeting was held with Dr. Radha Gupta and Dr. Ankur (Department of Radiology), Dr. Riaz Ahmed (Department of Pediatric Surgery), and Dr. Ved Prakash (Department of Plastic Surgery).
After thorough deliberation, it was decided to perform surgery at the earliest to ensure the child could lead a normal life. On April 3, 2025, this rare surgery was successfully performed by Dr. Sumit Raj, with Dr. Jitendra Shakya and Dr. Abhishek assisting. Throughout the operation, the anesthesia team was led by Dr. Sunaina and Dr. Riya, while intraoperative neuromonitoring was conducted by Dr. Ruchi, allowing for real-time monitoring of the nervous system's functions during the surgery.
On this achievement, Prof (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal said, "AIIMS Bhopal is continuously striving to provide world-class healthcare services in Central India. Success in such highly complex cases is a testament to the expertise of our doctors, interdepartmental coordination, and the institute's superior structural facilities. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire medical team for this significant achievement."
