Oman doctors remove foetus from four-month-old baby

A Muscat Royal Hospital team of doctors have successfully removed a foetus from a four-month-old baby in a rare surgery, Times of Oman reported.



The baby was shifted to the hospital from a health institution after being diagnosed with a large tumor in the abdominal area. "The surgery was performed by the Paediatric Surgery Department at Royal Hospital, and they were able to treat a rare condition called "foetus in foetu" for a four-month-old child. This is rare in the world because it occurs in exceptional circumstances," a statement read.

Royal Hospital Paediatric Surgery Head Muhammad Bin Jaafar Ali Sangwani said tests had revealed the pressing need for urgent surgical invention. The baby was discharged three days after, the hospital said.



“The child had a near-completed embryo inside, which affected the functions of the respiratory system, hence the baby's health condition had to be constantly studied and monitored before the operation," Royal Hospital Paediatric Surgeon Mohamed Al Metwally said.

Foetus-in-foetu (FIF), a rare condition, occurs in about 1 in every 500,000 live births worldwide.

This story originally appeared in Times of Oman.