Successful separation of Filipino conjoined twins in Saudi Arabia in a complex operation
A new Saudi medical achievement adds to the Kingdom's impressive record
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In a medical and humanitarian achievement that adds to the Kingdom’s impressive record, the specialized medical and surgical team at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh announced the successful separation of the Filipino conjoined twins “Akiza and Aisha”, after a complex surgical operation that lasted for many hours, with the participation of a select group of consultants and specialists.
This operation comes in implementation of the generous directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, to represent new evidence of the pioneering role that the Kingdom plays in humanitarian work and providing advanced medical care at the global level.
The Saudi Program for Separating Conjoined Twins: A History of Giving
The success of this operation is the latest in a series of achievements for the Saudi Program for Separating Conjoined Twins, which was launched in 1990 and is overseen by Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. For over three decades, the program has brought joy to hundreds of families worldwide, having studied more than 130 cases from 23 countries and successfully performed dozens of complex surgeries that have become a global medical benchmark in this specialized field. This operation marks the 59th successful separation performed under the program.
Details of the surgical procedure and its challenges
The twins, Akisa and Aisha, were conjoined at the lower chest and abdomen, sharing a liver, making the surgery extremely complex and delicate. The operation was planned in several stages, involving a multidisciplinary medical team including pediatric surgeons, plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nursing and technical staff. The procedure involved many long hours of painstaking work, during which the shared organs were carefully separated and the abdominal wall of each girl was reconstructed individually to ensure their stability after the separation. They were then transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for monitoring.
Humanitarian and diplomatic dimensions of the medical achievement
The success of this operation is not merely a medical achievement; it also carries profound humanitarian and diplomatic dimensions. Domestically, this success reinforces the Saudi healthcare sector's position as one of the most advanced in the world and highlights the national expertise capable of performing the most complex surgeries. Internationally, the Saudi program for separating conjoined twins is a prime example of the Kingdom's humanitarian diplomacy, providing assistance to those in need regardless of their religion or ethnicity. This reflects the Kingdom's noble message of peace and generosity and strengthens its image as a powerful force for good on the global stage.
