In a truly extraordinary medical achievement, the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMCRI) in Hubballi recently announced the successful operation of a ‘foetus in foetu’ case. This incredibly rare congenital anomaly, affecting roughly one in five lakh births, involves a malformed foetus growing inexplicably within the body of its twin.
Addressing the press, KMCRI Director Dr. Ishwar Hosamani proudly shared details of the complex procedure, highlighting its successful outcome. The journey began when a pregnant woman from Pashupatihal village, Dharwad district, underwent a routine scan. Doctors detected unusual bone-like structures within the baby in the womb. Despite this finding, there was no observable growth of these structures until delivery. The baby boy was born via normal delivery, weighing a healthy 3.5 kg on September 23.
Post-birth, further scanning confirmed the presence of these structures, leading to a diagnosis of ‘foetus in foetu’. A dedicated team, led by paediatric surgeon Dr. Rajshankar, performed the intricate surgery on October 7. Thanks to their expertise, the baby boy has made a complete recovery and is now thriving. The parents have been given detailed guidance on the child’s care, and KMCRI has committed to regular follow-up checkups to ensure his continued well-being.
Adding to their list of achievements, KMCRI doctors also successfully performed an emergency surgery on a woman suffering from diabetes who arrived at the hospital with no pulse or blood flow in her left hand. The life-saving Fogarty catheter, though not immediately available at the institute, was promptly secured through local grants. Dr. Kobanna Kattimani and his team swiftly carried out the operation on October 7, restoring blood flow and saving the patient’s hand.
Dr. Hosamani further elaborated on the institute’s impressive operational volume, stating that KMCRI has conducted a staggering 75,227 surgeries this year alone. This includes 15,382 major operations and 59,845 daycare procedures, averaging 252 surgeries daily. These figures underscore the relentless dedication and high-volume patient care provided by the institute.
Looking ahead, KMCRI is actively expanding its infrastructure with ongoing construction of an IFV (In Vitro Fertilization) block and a critical care block. A new Outpatient Department (OPD) counter has also been inaugurated to enhance patient access. The institute is also prioritizing various recruitments through outsourcing to strengthen its medical and support teams. Medical superintendent Dr. Ishwar Hasabi, Dr. Rajashekhar, Dr Rajshekhar Dyaberi, Dr. Suryakanth, Dr. Rajashankar, Dr. Rupali Wadeyar, Dr. Kobanna Kattimani, and other distinguished doctors were present to commemorate these significant milestones.