In a heart-wrenching ordeal in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara, a 10-month-old baby boy named Muhammad Abdalul Zikri Hakim faces a life-threatening condition that has left his parents, Asmani and Rusman, grappling with the unimaginable. Initially, the alarming expansion of the baby’s abdomen led the parents to fear a tumour, prompting them to seek urgent medical attention at their local hospital in Lombok.
However, the reality that unfolded was even more extraordinary and perilous. Doctors at the West Nusa Tenggara General Hospital suspect that Muhammad is suffering from “foetus in foetu,” an exceptionally rare condition occurring in only one in every 500,000 births, with fewer than 100 documented cases worldwide.
Foetus in foetu is characterized by one foetus becoming enveloped by its twin in the womb, leading to survival as a parasitic entity, often persisting long after birth. In this unique case, the tissues within the baby’s abdomen are considered dead, but the blood vessels remain alive, creating an intricate medical challenge.
Lalu Hamzi Fikri, the director of the hospital, revealed the complexity of the situation, stating, “It’s dependent on the main source or parent, which in this case is the baby.” CT scans and x-rays have exposed the foreign entity inside baby Zikri’s abdomen, prompting the medical team to prepare for a complicated and rare surgical intervention.
However, the challenges do not end there. The baby is currently unwell and undernourished, posing an additional obstacle for the medical team. Dr. Fikri explained, “The malnourishment is caused by the existence of tissues, a foreign object inside the body; that foreign object is a parasite, it eats off its source or parent.” The hospital cannot proceed with the operation until the baby’s condition improves.
Indonesia, like many other countries, often sees individuals seeking complex medical treatments overseas. In this instance, the hospital on Lombok island is committed to handling the situation locally once the baby’s condition stabilizes. The surgical team, comprised of nine specialists, will navigate the intricate procedure with utmost caution.
Obstetrician Agus Rusdi expressed concerns about the operation, acknowledging the need for meticulous planning due to the rarity of the condition. The position of the attached mass and its proximity to vital organs will significantly influence the complexity of the surgery.
As the medical team awaits the stabilization of baby Zikri’s condition, the case stands as a poignant reminder of the intricacies and uncertainties that can accompany rare medical conditions, calling for the collaboration of medical experts and the resilience of a community rallying behind a family facing an extraordinary challenge.
