Saudi Arabia: 14-hour surgery to separate Tanzanian conjoined twins 'Laitiyness and Loveyness'
The Saudi medical team successfully separated Tanzanian conjoined twins Laitiyness and Loveyness in Riyadh.
Translated by Qiyas from الوسط — Original source
Two days ago, the specialized medical and surgical team affiliated with the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program achieved a new medical milestone by successfully separating Tanzanian conjoined twins, Laityens and Lovens. The surgery was performed at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, part of the King Abdulaziz Medical City under the Ministry of National Guard, in Riyadh.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabiah, Advisor to the Royal Court, General Supervisor of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and Head of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program’s medical and surgical team, stated that, by the grace and favor of God Almighty, and through the efforts of his colleagues in the medical and surgical team, the Tanzanian conjoined twins, Laityens and Lovens, were separated after 14 and a half hours of surgery, carried out in nine stages.
He added that the operation involved the participation of 44 consultants, specialists, nursing staff, and technical personnel from various medical specialties, to ensure the highest levels of precision and safety throughout all stages of the procedure.
He noted that the two-year-and-two-month-old twins were conjoined in the pelvic and hip region, sharing the lower part of the intestines, the spine, lumbar vertebrae, and the spinal cord, while possessing four lower limbs.
Dr. Al-Rabiah emphasized that this surgery marks the fourth procedure to separate conjoined twins from the United Republic of Tanzania, and the 75th in the series of operations conducted by the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which spans more than 35 years, has covered 29 countries, and has evaluated 160 cases from around the world. This underscores the Kingdom’s pioneering role in humanitarian work in general and medical work in particular, under the direct support and patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister.
On behalf of himself and all members of the medical and surgical team, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabiah extended his highest expressions of gratitude and appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the generous support received by the Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program, which has established the Kingdom as a distinguished global center in this field. He also expressed his thanks to the medical and surgical team members for their efforts, which contributed to this new medical achievement that adds to the legacy of this beloved nation.
For her part, the mother of the Tanzanian twins expressed her gratitude and appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the high-quality medical care received by the twins, commending the significant efforts made by the medical team to ensure the success of the surgery.
