Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — A surgical procedure to separate eight-month old Egyptian child Mohammed Abdulrahman Juma from a parasitic twin was crowned with success. The Saudi medical team, led by Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, carried out the surgery.

It took eight hours to complete the complex surgical procedure held in six stages at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City of the National Guard in Riyadh. As many as 26 consultants, specialists, nursing and technical staff from the specialties of anesthesia, neurosurgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, and other supporting specialties participated in the operation.

Accompanied by parents, Mohammed Abdulrahman Juma arrived in the Kingdom in March. Upon admission to the hospital, the medical team conducted diagnostic tests that revealed a parasitic twin was attached to Mohammed’s back through the lower chest, abdomen, and pelvis.

Al-Rabeeah stated that the parasitic twin was separated from the child, Mohammed, as expected before the operation. He said that the parasitic twin had no chance of survival due to the absence of vital organs such as the heart and head, coupled with severe defects that cannot be corrected. This was in addition to the underdevelopment of the kidneys, urinary and reproductive systems, and the presence of severe intestinal deficiencies. He noted that this information was known before the operation and was explained to the child's parents.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for their unlimited support to the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, stressing that these medical successes represent a shining example of the Kingdom's presence on the international arena as a pioneering country in charitable and humanitarian work.

Al Rabeeah said that this operation marks the 63rd procedure performed under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has reviewed 149 cases from 27 countries since its inception in 1990. He underscored the program’s commitment to advancing its expertise and treatment protocols while sharing this knowledge with medical professionals both domestically and internationally. This initiative aims to expand the program's humanitarian impact and further solidify the Kingdom’s position as a global leader in the separation of conjoined twins and other critical medical fields.