Saudi medical team separates conjoined twins
A medical team of 23 was involved in the multi-stage operation to separate 11-month-old twins Chris and Christian
Surgeons at a Saudi hospital successfully separated Thursday Iraqi conjoined twins in a complex operation that lasted seven hours.
A medical team of 23 was involved in the multi-stage operation to separate 11-month-old twins Chris and Christian who had been joined at the chest and abdomen and shared one liver.
“The twins are in a stable condition,” said Health Minister Dr. Abdullah al-Rabeeah, who led the team of doctors at King Abdulaziz Medical City.
To ensure a successful outcome, the operation was divided in seven stages, with each doctor assigned a specific task during the surgery. The stages involved detaching the twins from the chest, abdomen and pelvic levels before proceeding with separating the shared organs.
Following the surgery, Chris and Christian were transferred to the intensive care unit at the hospital’s pediatrics department where they will remain for the next few months.
The cost of the operation was covered by the Saudi government after Saudi King Abdullah heard a televised plea for help from the twins’ parents.
Saudi Arabia has successfully carried out the intricate operation in the past. The surgery has been performed in the country since 1990 with an 80 percent success rate.
