RIYADH: A Saudi medical and surgical team started separating Nigerian conjoined twins Hassana and Hasina on Thursday morning at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, following directives from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
Following their arrival in Riyadh on October 31, 2023, the twins underwent comprehensive examinations, revealing shared areas in the lower abdomen, pelvis, lower spine, and lower spinal nerves.
The surgery will be conducted in nine stages and is expected to last approximately 14 hours. A team comprising 38 consultants, specialists, technicians, and nursing staff specializing in anesthesia, pediatric surgery, urology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery will participate in the operation.
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 team, stated that the success rate of the operation is 70%.
This is the 60th operation performed by the Saudi program for separating Siamese twins. Over the past 34 years, the program has provided care for 135 conjoined twins from 25 countries.
Dr. Al Rabeeah expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi leadership for their unwavering support of the program.
