An infant with the rare "mermaid syndrome," a defect in which the legs are born fused together, recieves treatment in the intensive care department of the Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital of Hunan Province in the capital city of Changsha Wednesday, November 22, 2006. [Sanxiang City Express]

BEIJING - Doctors in central China are trying to save an infant with the rare "mermaid syndrome," a defect in which the legs are born fused together, state media reported.

The boy was found abandoned outside a children's hospital in the city of Changsha two weeks ago and is in stable condition, Xu Zhiyue, head of the intensive care department of the Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Sirenomelia, or "mermaid syndrome," is a rare congenital defect occurring in one out of every 70,000 births, Xinhua said.

The condition is almost always fatal within days of delivery due to serious defects in vital organs.

The baby's legs are joined together from thigh to heel.

Doctors said the baby also suffers from severe internal defects -- it has no kidney or urinary tract, its heart does not function properly, its anus and genitals are underdeveloped, its alimentary tract is deformed, and its intestines are obstructed.

Doctors were only able determine the baby's gender through an ultrasonic examination, Xinhua said.

Doctors were keeping the baby alive via peritoneal dialysis, a treatment for people suffering kidney failure that cleans the blood and removes waste and excess water from the body.

The baby was found on November 12 in front of the hospital gate, apparently abandoned by its parents, with a note saying it was born three days earlier.

Doctors are studying the baby to determine a schedule for operations, including a possible separation of the legs, Xinhua said.

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