Post by : Shweta
Saudi Medical Team Completes Complex Separation Surgery
Riyadh, October 16, 2026: A Saudi medical team has successfully separated conjoined twins from Fiji following an operation that lasted nearly 13 hours at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital in Riyadh. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the hospital is part of King Abdulaziz Medical City, which operates under the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs.
Surgery Completed in Nine Stages
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, head of the surgical team and general supervisor of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, said the operation was completed in nine stages. The complex procedure required careful planning and coordination among medical professionals from several specialist departments.
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Thirty-Four Medical Professionals Participated
A total of 34 consultants, specialists, technicians and nurses took part in the operation. The team included professionals from anesthesiology, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedics, urology and other medical specialties. Their combined expertise supported the different stages of the separation procedure.
Twins Shared Several Internal Organs
According to Dr. Al-Rabeeah, the twins were joined at the abdomen and pelvis. They shared several organs and anatomical structures, including the liver, intestines, colon, anus, urinary and reproductive systems, and pelvic bone. These complex connections made the operation particularly challenging and required specialists from multiple disciplines.
First Separation Case Involving Patients from Fiji
Dr. Al-Rabeeah said this was the first conjoined-twin separation involving patients from Fiji under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program. It was also the programme's 74th operation during more than 35 years of work. The programme has assessed 159 cases from 28 countries across five continents, according to the report.
Saudi Conjoined Twins Program's International Reach
The Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has developed experience in evaluating and treating complex cases involving conjoined twins from different parts of the world. Its work brings together medical specialists to assess each case and determine the appropriate surgical approach. The successful completion of this operation adds another case to the programme's history.
Family Expresses Gratitude to Saudi Leadership and Medical Team
The twins' family expressed gratitude to King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the medical team involved in the operation. The reported successful separation marks an important milestone for the family and the specialists who carried out the complex procedure. Further details about the twins' post-operative recovery were not provided in the supplied report.
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