Filipino conjoined twins separated after 6-hour surgery in Riyadh

Filipino conjoined twins Olivia and Gianna Manuel were successfully separated on Thursday following a complex six-hour surgery performed under Saudi Arabia’s Conjoined Twins Separation Program (SCTP).

The operation was carried out at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, by a specialized medical team led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of KSrelief and head of the program’s medical and surgical team.

“Thanks to God, and then the efforts of my colleagues and fellow members of the medical and surgical team, the twins were separated six hours after the start of the operation,” Al-Rabeeah said.

According to KSrelief, a team of 22 consultants, specialists, nurses and technical staff participated in the procedure, ensuring the highest standards of precision and safety throughout the operation.

Following the twins’ admission to the hospital, doctors conducted extensive medical examinations and diagnostic assessments. The evaluations revealed that the sisters were joined at the chest and abdomen, sharing a liver and possibly part of their intestines.

Medical examinations also found that one of the twins was suffering from congenital heart defects, increasing the complexity and risk of the surgery.

Al-Rabeeah said the procedure marked the fourth successful separation of Filipino conjoined twins under the program and the 72nd separation surgery performed since the initiative was launched in 1990.

Over the past three decades, the Saudi program has provided medical care to 158 sets of conjoined twins from 28 countries, making it one of the world’s leading humanitarian and medical initiatives in the field.

Saudi officials said the latest achievement reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and highlights the advanced capabilities of its healthcare sector. They added that the success aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to enhance the quality, efficiency and global standing of healthcare services in the Kingdom.