An 18-hour operation in Riyadh involved 30 specialists and carried a risk of up to 50%.
Dubai: Filipino conjoined twins joined at the head were successfully separated in Saudi Arabia after a highly intricate and high-risk procedure described by doctors as “one of the most complex cases worldwide.”
The surgery, which lasted 18 and a half hours, was carried out at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital in Riyadh by a team of 30 consultants, specialists, and nursing and technical staff from multiple disciplines.
A complex case
In a statement, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) said the twins, Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa, were facing severe medical complications, making the case especially complex.
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and head of the medical and surgical team, revealed that Klea Ann was suffering from cardiac muscle insufficiency and severe kidney atrophy with complete renal failure, which made the procedure even more complex.
“The twins’ case is among the most complex in the world due to several medical factors, most notably the complex angular positioning of the two heads, extensive sharing of the cerebral venous sinuses, and intertwining of brain tissue between the two girls,” Al Rabeeah explained.
He also said the case carried major risks even before surgery.
“Based on the multidisciplinary medical evaluation and precise diagnostic studies, the level of risk reached 50 per cent due to the medical challenges involved, with the possibility of severe neurological complications that could result in disability at a rate of up to 60 per cent.”
Five-stage surgical plan
The twins arrived in Saudi Arabia on May 17 last year and underwent a series of detailed examinations, imaging tests, and medical consultations.
After several discussions, the surgical team developed a five-stage plan. The operation was led by Muatasim Al-Zoubi and involved specialists in anaesthesia, intensive care, advanced imaging, neurosurgery, and plastic surgery.
Doctors had initially estimated the procedure would take up to 24 hours.
70th case under programme
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre announced the successful operation after nearly 13 hours of continuous surgery.
“This marks the 70th operation in the programme’s history and the third case involving twins from the Philippines, with subsequent stages continuing for reconstruction and closure.”
The procedure was carried out under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme, which has handled 157 cases from 28 countries since 1990.
Family relief after surgery
The twins’ mother also expressed deep relief following the success of the separation surgery.
“Truly a miracle for our family. Our hearts are full of gratitude and happiness because we have prayed and waited for this moment for so long,” she said in a video.
She added, “To all the doctors, nurses, and the entire medical team, thank you for your dedication and compassion. You did not only perform surgery, you gave my twins a chance to live their lives separately.”
