RIYADH – A Saudi medical team successfully separated Somali conjoined twins on Thursday following a complex 12-hour surgery in the capital, Riyadh, officials said.
The surgery, performed at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, involved the separation of twin girls, Rahma and Ramla, who were born joined at the lower body.
The delicate procedure was carried out in eight distinct stages by a multidisciplinary team of 36 experts, including specialized surgeons, consultants, and technical nursing staff.
Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and head of the medical team, confirmed the success of the operation.
“This operation marks the 68th successful separation performed under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program,” Al-Rabeeah said.
Over the past 35 years, the state-funded program has reviewed cases of 156 twins from 28 countries, providing specialized medical care and surgical intervention free of charge as part of the kingdom’s humanitarian initiatives.
The parents of Rahma and Ramla expressed their “deep gratitude and joy,” thanking King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the life-saving opportunity and the high level of care provided to their daughters.
The twins have been moved to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), where they are currently undergoing monitoring. Doctors described their condition as stable, with a positive outlook for a full recovery.
