Saudi Arabia successfully separates Tanzanian conjoined twins in 14.5-hour surgery

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has successfully separated Tanzanian conjoined twins Lateens and Lovens in a complex 14.5-hour operation at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in Riyadh.The surgery marks the 75th successful separation procedure carried out under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program and the fourth involving conjoined twins from Tanzania.Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and head of the medical and surgical team, said the operation was conducted in nine stages with the participation of 44 consultants, specialists, nurses and technical personnel from multiple medical disciplines.The twins, aged two years and two months, were joined at the pelvis and hips and shared portions of their lower intestines, spine, lumbar vertebrae and spinal cord. Each twin had two lower limbs.The medical team included specialists in anesthesia, pediatric surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, urology and plastic surgery.The twins arrived in Saudi Arabia on January 27, 2026, and underwent extensive medical examinations and assessments to determine the feasibility of separation and develop a surgical plan.The medical team also held several specialized meetings to evaluate their condition and prepare for the complex procedure.As part of the preparations, the twins underwent a skin expansion procedure over several months to provide sufficient tissue for the separation surgery.Before the operation, Al-Rabeeah had estimated its chances of success at 70%, reflecting the complexity of the twins' shared anatomy.He said the successful procedure represents another milestone for the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has evaluated 160 cases from 29 countries across five continents since its establishment in 1990.The operation was carried out under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.Al-Rabeeah expressed his appreciation to the Saudi leadership for its continued support of the program, which has enabled medical teams to provide specialized care and improve the quality of life of children from around the world.The twins' mother expressed her gratitude to Saudi Arabia and the medical team for the healthcare and efforts that contributed to the successful separation.