Madhya Pradesh: Rare Conjoined Twins Delivered At MTH Hospital In Indore

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In an extraordinary and medically rare event, doctors at MTH Hospital successfully delivered a pair of parapagusdicephalus conjoined twins (a condition where two heads share a single torso) through an emergency caesarean section in the early hours of Tuesday. The delivery, performed under intense medical pressure, has not only drawn attention for its clinical complexity but has also highlighted critical gaps in prenatal diagnostics in rural healthcare.

The 22-year-old mother, a resident of Palasi village in Dewas district, was brought to MTH Hospital in advanced labour. Although her pregnancy had been registered at the Harangaon Primary Health Centre and she underwent four antenatal checkups, no congenital anomalies had been detected. The case came to light only when she was admitted in critical condition.

With no prior knowledge of the twin anomaly and given the severity of labour, doctors immediately performed an emergency lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) around midnight. The surgery was conducted under spinal anaesthesia and was led by head of department Dr Nilesh Dalal, along with a team that included Dr Alka Patel, Dr Sheetal Hedaoo, Dr Inderlata Solanki, Dr Neha Rajput, and Dr Divya.

The baby, a female weighing 2.8 kg was born with two heads and one torso, medically classified as parapagusdicephalus conjoined twins, one of the rarest forms of conjoining.

Complex anatomy, uncertain future

Currently admitted to the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at MTH Hospital, the baby is under 24-hour medical observation. According to Dr Sunil Arya, senior paediatrician and head of the SNCU, the newborn has two heads, two spines, two livers, a single heart, one set of lungs, and two separate digestive tracts.

“The anatomy is extremely complex. The presence of a shared heart makes the possibility of surgical separation highly delicate. A multidisciplinary team is evaluating the feasibility of any future intervention,” said Dr Arya.

A Medical Rarity

Hospital Superintendent and senior gynaecologist Dr Anupama Dave explained that conjoined twins occur when a single fertilised egg fails to fully split during early embryonic development usually in the second or third week after conception. “This is not a genetic condition, nor is it caused by maternal health. It’s a rare developmental error. Such cases occur in about 1 in every 50,000 to 200,000 pregnancies globally,” she said.

Antenatal oversight under scrutiny

The case has also raised serious questions about the effectiveness of prenatal monitoring in rural health systems. Despite regular antenatal visits, the rare condition went entirely undiagnosed. Experts say the lack of ultrasonographic screening and follow-up at primary health centres is a persistent concern that contributes to rising maternal and neonatal complications in remote areas.

“This was a high-risk pregnancy that should have been detected much earlier. Basic ultrasound screenings are essential, and the absence of such diagnostics points to systemic shortcomings at the grassroots level,” said a senior official from the state health department.

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