Health

Nigerian conjoined twins separated after 14 hours of successful surgery in Saudi Arabia

Published

10 months ago

March 1, 2024

Conjoined twins from Nigeria, identified as Hassana and Husaina, have been separated by a surgical team in Saudi Arabia.

The twins from Kano state were flown to Saudi Arabia for surgery in October 2023.

The surgical operation which lasted 14 hours was conducted at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s hospital, in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh.

The surgery was carried out following directives of the 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.

This is contained in a statement by Mohammed Alsahabi, Press Attache at the Royal Embassy Of Saudi Arabia in Abuja.

“The procedure, which began on Thursday morning, 29th February 2024, marked the culmination of meticulous planning and execution by a dedicated team of medical professionals.

“The Kano twins, who arrived in Riyadh on October 31, 2023, underwent comprehensive examinations that revealed shared areas in the lower abdomen, pelvis, lower spine, and lower spinal nerves.

“The surgical intervention unfolded in nine planned stages, lasting approximately 14 hours.

“A team comprising 38 consultants, specialists, technicians, and nursing staff specialising in anaesthesia, pediatric surgery, urology, orthopaedics, plastic surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery collaborated seamlessly to ensure the success of this complex operation.

“This surgical milestone marked the 60th operation undertaken 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,” Alsahabi said.

He said the successful separation of Hassana and Husaina exemplifies the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing medical science and extending compassionate healthcare on a global scale.

Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies are joined in utero.

The medical term for conjoined twins is “conjoined twinning” or “conjoined siblings.”

The extent of the connection and the organs shared by the twins determine the complexity of the case.

Surgical separation may be considered in certain cases, depending on factors such as the twins’ overall health, the extent of the connection, and the potential for independent function after separation.