Saudi medical team begins separation of Fijian conjoined twins in Riyadh

Acting on the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program began the separation surgery for Fijian conjoined twins Jasbili and Desisia, both 13 months old, this morning at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, in Riyadh.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and head of the medical and surgical team, said in a press statement that the twins arrived in the Kingdom on July 21, 2026. After their admission to King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital, the medical team conducted thorough examinations and multiple meetings, determining that the twins are joined at the abdomen and pelvis and share a liver, intestines, colon, anus, urinary and reproductive systems, and pelvic bone.

He explained that the team decided to carry out the operation in nine stages, expected to last around 15 hours, with the participation of 34 consultants, specialists, technical staff, and nurses from anesthesiology, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedics, urology, and supporting specialties.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah noted that, based on multidisciplinary medical assessments and precise diagnostic studies, this is a complex procedure with a projected success rate of 70 percent. He added that this is the first separation of conjoined twins from Fiji and marks the 74th operation under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has cared for 159 sets of twins from 28 countries across five continents since 1990.

On behalf of himself and the team, Dr. Al-Rabeeah expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous support, which has made the Kingdom a global leader in this field. He prayed for the twins’ swift recovery and safe return to their home country.