Riyadh, February 29, 2024, In line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, a Saudi medical and surgical team initiated the separation procedure for Nigerian conjoined twins, Hassana and Hasina, at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh on Thursday.
The twins, who arrived in Riyadh on October 31, 2023, underwent extensive examinations, revealing shared areas in the lower abdomen, pelvis, lower spine, and lower spinal nerves. The complex surgery is planned to be carried out in nine stages and is expected to last approximately 14 hours. A dedicated team of 38 consultants, specialists, technicians, and nursing staff specializing in anesthesia, pediatric surgery, urology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery will be involved 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, expressed that the success rate of the operation is estimated at 70%. Notably, this marks the 60th operation conducted by the Saudi program for separating Siamese twins, a program that has provided care for 135 conjoined twins from 25 countries over the past 34 years.
Dr. Al Rabeeah conveyed his gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi leadership for their unwavering support of the program. This humanitarian effort exemplifies the Kingdom's commitment to extending medical expertise and assistance to those in need globally, reflecting the nation's dedication to humanitarian causes.
