Saudi Arabia doctors successfully separate Iraqi conjoined twins

Health

Published: 2023-01-13 20:06

Last Updated: 2024-03-27 09:42


Photo taken from the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs' (MNGHA) official website
Photo taken from the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs' (MNGHA) official website

A total of 27 medical staff members at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Saudi Arabia successfully separated Iraqi conjoined twins Thursday.

The surgery was performed following directives from Saudi’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The head of the medical team, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Rabeeah, said the surgery was expected to consist of a minimum of six phases and take up to 11 hours.

The expected success rate was 70 percent because the twins, Ali and Omar, were conjoined from the lower chest and abdomen area.

The twins also shared a liver, bile ducts and intestines, which made the operation even more complicated.