Brazilian media say doctors have extracted needles from the heart and lung of a toddler that were allegedly inserted by his stepfather during a series of bizarre rituals. Brazil's Globo TV and A Tarde newspaper said the needles that posed the greatest threat to the boy were successfully removed. They say the boy was still being operated on to remove two more needles near his heart.

Hospital spokeswoman Susy Moreno did not immediately return a telephone message left on her cell phone seeking comment.

Moreno said earlier Friday that the operation started late Friday afternoon and was expected to last at least six hours. The boy has dozens of needles inside him. More operations are planned if the initial surgery is successful.