Surgical separation of Tanzanian conjoined twins begins in Riyadh

A medical and surgical team from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program began the separation surgery for Tanzanian conjoined twins Laetines and Lovens, aged two years and two months, on Thursday morning at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Riyadh. The procedure is being carried out in accordance with directives from King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Prime Minister.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and head of the medical and surgical team, said the twins arrived in the Kingdom on January 27, 2026. They underwent thorough examinations and specialized medical consultations to assess their condition and develop an appropriate surgical plan.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah explained that the twins are joined at the pelvis and hips, have four lower limbs, and share the lower part of the intestines, spine, lumbar vertebrae, and spinal cord. They underwent several months of skin expansion procedures in preparation for the surgery.

He noted that the operation will be conducted in nine stages and is expected to last about 15 hours, with the participation of 44 consultants, specialists, nurses, and technical staff from various disciplines. The anticipated success rate for the procedure is 70%.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah added that this is the fourth separation surgery for conjoined twins from Tanzania and the 75th procedure under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has cared for 160 sets of twins from 29 countries across five continents since 1990.

On behalf of himself and the medical team, Dr. Al-Rabeeah expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support of the program, emphasizing that this backing has enabled the provision of the highest standards of medical care for beneficiary children. He wished for the operation's success.