Filipino conjoined twins stable one week after successful separation

RIYADH —Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and Head of the Medical and Surgical Team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said that the condition of Filipino conjoined twins Klea and Maurice Ann was stable seven days after their successful surgical separation. The surgery was performed by a medical team, led by Dr. Al-Rabeeah, last Thursday at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital under King Abdulaziz Medical City of the Ministry of National Guard in Riyadh. Dr. Al-Rabeeah noted that Maurice Ann is currently breathing normally and has been taken off artificial ventilation. She has started feeding through a tube, and is gradually interacting with her parents. Initial neurological tests have indicated she is in good condition. Al-Rabeeah said that Klea is still breathing normally through a ventilator, and it is expected that the device will be removed within a day or two, after which sedatives will be reduced to assess her neurological condition. He noted that she is undergoing peritoneal dialysis due to congenital kidney failure, in addition to suffering from heart muscle weakness since birth. Dr. Al-Rabeeah said the medical and surgical team indicated that the results of the operation are positive, thanks to the expertise of the surgical team led by pediatric neurosurgery consultant Dr. Moutasem Azzubi, the plastic surgery team led by Dr. Obaid Al-Meshal, and the anesthesia team led by Dr. Nezar Zughaibi, along with their colleagues of consultants, specialists, and nursing and technical staff.