Saudi doctors separate conjoined twins after 12-hour surgery

Dubai: A Saudi surgical team on Thursday successfully separated seven-month-old conjoined twins, Yara and Lara, in a 12.5-hour operation.

The procedure was performed at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh, part of King Abdulaziz Medical City under the Ministry of National Guard.

Led by Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, a veteran surgeon and Royal Court advisor who heads the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme, the operation involved 38 medical professionals across various specialities, including paediatric surgery, anaesthesia, orthopaedics, and urology.

The twins were joined at the lower abdomen and pelvis, sharing portions of their digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems, as well as a section of their pelvic bone.

Despite the complexity, Dr Al Rabeeah said the operation proceeded according to plan and concluded with both infants in stable condition.

Thursday’s surgery marked the 65th successful separation performed under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme, which has reviewed 150 cases from 27 countries over the past 35 years.

The programme is globally recognised for its specialised expertise in such rare and high-risk operations.

The operation took place in nine carefully choreographed stages, involving extensive pre-operative planning and post-operative care protocols.

Dr Al Rabeeah emphasised that recovery is far from over: the twins will undergo weeks of intensive monitoring in the paediatric ICU, followed by a long rehabilitation process that includes physical therapy and psychological support.

Born on November 5, 2024, the twins had a combined weight of 10 kilograms and each had fully developed limbs. After months of evaluation, imaging, and internal consultations, the team deemed the separation both possible and in the best interest of the children.