RIYADH:(News Desk) – The Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has achieved another medical milestone after successfully separating Fijian conjoined twins, Jasepeli and Desicia, during a complex operation performed on Thursday in Riyadh.
The 12-hour-and-45-minute surgery was conducted in nine stages at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, part of King Abdulaziz Medical City under the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and head of the medical and surgical team, announced the successful completion of the procedure.
He said the operation involved 34 consultants, specialists, technical personnel and nursing staff from several medical disciplines, including anesthesiology, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery and urology.
According to Dr. Al-Rabeeah, the twins were joined at the abdomen and pelvis and shared several vital organs and structures, including the liver, intestines, colon, anus, urinary and reproductive systems, and pelvic bone. The complexity of the case required extensive preparation, specialized expertise and close coordination among the multidisciplinary team.
The procedure was the first conjoined twin separation operation involving twins from Fiji and the 74th successful separation in the history of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.
Established more than 35 years ago, the program has assessed 159 cases from 28 countries across five continents, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to advance specialized medical treatment and humanitarian healthcare initiatives internationally.
On behalf of himself and the medical team, Dr. Al-Rabeeah expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support of the program. He said their backing had played an important role in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s international standing in conjoined twin separation.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah also praised the medical and surgical team for its dedication, professionalism and efforts in completing the complex procedure successfully.
The twins’ family expressed deep appreciation to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for ensuring access to advanced medical care. They also commended the Saudi medical team for its expertise, commitment and efforts to complete the operation while prioritizing the twins’ well-being.
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