RAHIM YAR KHAN: Doctors at Sheikh Zayed Hospital have successfully performed an extremely rare and complex surgery on a five-year-old boy, removing an undeveloped fetus from his chest in a case that has drawn attention from medical experts across the country.
The child, Rehan, underwent the procedure after doctors discovered an unusual mass located dangerously close to his heart and a major central artery. Thoracic surgeon Dr Sultan Awaisi described the operation as exceptionally delicate, noting that the condition, known in medical literature as fetus in fetu, is among the rarest congenital anomalies.
According to medical experts, fetus in fetu occurs in roughly one out of every 500,000 births worldwide. The condition involves a malformed parasitic twin developing inside the body of its host twin. In Rehan’s case, a specialised surgical team carefully planned and executed the operation, successfully removing the mass without complications.
Hospital officials said the child was initially brought to the pulmonology department after suffering from persistent coughing. Despite multiple medical consultations over time, the underlying cause remained undetected. Rehan’s mother said no doctor had previously suspected that an undeveloped fetus was present inside her son’s body.
Following the surgery, Rehan has been admitted to the thoracic ward, where doctors report his condition to be stable and satisfactory. Hospital representatives confirmed that he is receiving close monitoring and comprehensive post-operative care.
Rehan’s mother expressed relief and gratitude, saying her son is now healthy after the operation. Doctors have termed the successful procedure a major medical milestone and a valuable contribution to the documentation of rare medical cases in Pakistan.
Fetus in fetu is a monozygotic twin abnormality that occurs during early embryonic development, when one twin becomes enveloped by the other. The enclosed fetus remains dependent on the host’s blood supply and cannot survive independently, making surgical removal the only effective treatment.
