Baby with 2 heads undergoes successful surgery

An eight-month-old baby who grew a second ‘head’ has undergone surgery to have it removed.The child, known as Tofajjal, was suffering from a rare disease called encephalomeningocele, said to affect one in 40,000-45,000 babies.


According to doctors, the second head was a ‘parasitic twin’, which weighed almost a kilo and had brain tissue within it.

He has now had the ‘head’ removed in a painstaking five-hour operation.

Neuro-surgeon Sisir Das, from Kolkata’s Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, told journalists, ‘I have never operated on such a big lesion. It was a very critical operation and slightest slip-up during the vital surgery might have ended the life of the baby.’

He added that even returning Tofajjal to his parents was a challenge, as they live in a very remote village.

Doctors say Tofajjal has already shown signs of speedy recovery post the surgery and it is hoped he will be able to lead a relatively normal life.