Doctors in the Saudi capital Riyadh have successfully separated 13-month-old conjoined twins from Fiji. Doctors previously estimated the probability of its successful outcome at 70%.
According to the Saudi News Agency SPA, the operation took place on October 15 at the King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital. 34 specialists took part in it, including pediatric and plastic surgeons, orthopedists, urologists and anesthesiologists.
The girls were connected in the abdomen and pelvis. They shared a liver, intestines, anus, organs of the urinary and reproductive systems, as well as a pelvic bone. The surgical intervention lasted 12 hours 45 minutes and included nine stages.
According to Arab News, the surgical team was led by Dr. Abdullah al-Rabia, head of the King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid.
This is the 74th operation to separate conjoined twins under the Saudi national program, which has been in place since 1990. During this time, 159 pairs of twins from 28 countries received medical care.