Saudi medical team successfully separates Fijian conjoined twins

A medical team from the Saudi Siamese Twin Program has successfully completed the separation of 13-month-old Fijian twins, Jospili and Desisia, in Riyadh. The complex procedure took place at the King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital within the King Abdulaziz Medical City.

The twins were joined at the abdomen and pelvis, sharing the liver, intestines, colon, anus, urinary system, reproductive system, and pelvic bone. The surgery was conducted in nine stages over approximately 13 hours, involving a multidisciplinary team of 34 specialists, including experts in pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and urology.

This marks the 74th operation performed by the Saudi Siamese Twin Program since its inception in 1990. The program has treated 159 twins from 28 different countries across five continents. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, the supervisor of the program, noted that this was the first time the program has handled a case from the Republic of Fiji.