A specialised medical and surgical team from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has separated Fijian conjoined twins, Jasepeli and Desicia, in a complex operation carried out on Thursday in Riyadh. The programme described the result as another major medical milestone.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and head of the medical team, announced the successful separation.
Nine-stage surgery at King Abdullah Children’s Hospital
The operation took place at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, which forms part of King Abdulaziz Medical City under the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs. It lasted 12 hours and 45 minutes and was completed in nine stages.
Al-Rabeeah said 34 consultants, specialists, technical staff and nurses from several fields took part. These included anaesthesiology, paediatric surgery, plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery and urology, along with other supporting specialties.
Shared organs and detailed planning for the case
According to Al-Rabeeah, the twins were joined at the abdomen and pelvis and shared several vital organs and structures. These included the liver, intestines, colon, anus, urinary and reproductive systems, and a pelvic bone.
He said the case demanded extensive preparation, specialised expertise and close coordination among the multidisciplinary team. The procedure was the first separation of conjoined twins from Fiji and the 74th successful operation of its kind in the programme’s history.
Established more than 35 years ago, the programme has assessed 159 cases from 28 countries across five continents. Al-Rabeeah framed the work as part of Saudi Arabia’s long-term commitment to specialised care and humanitarian health initiatives.
Gratitude to Saudi leadership and the twins’ family
Al-Rabeeah thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for their continued backing of the programme. He said that support was crucial in raising the kingdom’s global reputation in separating conjoined twins.
He also commended the medical team for its dedication, professionalism and outstanding work. The twins’ family expressed deep thanks to King Salman and the Crown Prince for making advanced treatment available, and praised the team for protecting the twins’ well-being during the procedure.
