5 days ago
Syrian conjoined twins successfully separated in Saudi after complex 8-hour surgery
Syrian conjoined twins Selin and Elin, aged one year and five months, have been successfully separated after a highly complex surgical procedure in Saudi Arabia. The intricate procedure, which lasted eight continuous hours, was performed by a multidisciplinary team of 24 medical specialists.
'This achievement is a testament to the high calibre of Saudi medical professionals and the Kingdom's humanitarian mission to serve people worldwide," said Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, head of the surgical team and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief).
According to Saudi Gazette, the operation took place at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, under the Ministry of National Guard in Riyadh. The surgical team included experts in paediatric surgery, anaesthesiology, plastic surgery, and other key fields, ensuring every stage of the procedure was performed with maximum precision and safety.
The twins' family expressed heartfelt thanks to King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the dedicated medical team for the exceptional care their daughters received.
This marks the fourth successful separation of conjoined twins from Syria and the 66th surgery completed under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme — a globally recognised initiative that has evaluated 150 cases from 27 countries over the past 35 years.
The surgical team included specialists in paediatric surgery, anaesthesiology, plastic surgery, and other critical disciplines, ensuring every stage of the procedure was performed with maximum precision and safety.
The procedure took place at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, under the Ministry of National Guard in Riyadh.
The successful operation also drew praise from Syrian officials. Hussein Abdulaziz, chargé d'affaires at the Syrian Embassy in Riyadh, thanked the Saudi government, KSrelief, and the entire medical team.
He highlighted the advanced capabilities of the Kingdom's healthcare system and noted the operation as a powerful symbol of the strong brotherly ties between Saudi Arabia and Syria.
This is not the first time Saudi Arabia has extended its advanced medical services to children from abroad. In June last year, a similar procedure was performed on six-month-old Filipino conjoined twins, Akeiza and Aisha.
The surgery, which was conducted in five stages over 7.5 hours, had a projected success rate of 70 per cent and was also carried out at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital.
