The separation surgery for Somali conjoined twins Rahma and Ramla has begun in Riyadh
In accordance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect them, the specialized medical and surgical team began this morning the procedures for separating the Somali conjoined twins , Rahma and Ramla. The operation is being performed at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, in Riyadh, under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
The Kingdom's leadership in complex humanitarian surgeries
This operation marks another milestone in the series of medical successes achieved by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of separating conjoined twins, a program that reflects the profound humanitarian dimension of Saudi policy. For decades, the Kingdom has championed this complex medical field, providing exceptional healthcare to children from around the world without discrimination, making Riyadh a leading global destination for this specialized procedure. Hosting the Somali twins underscores the deep fraternal ties that bind the Kingdom to the sisterly Republic of Somalia, and the wise leadership's commitment to extending a helping hand to those in need, further solidifying the Kingdom's position as the beating heart of the Islamic world and a center of humanitarianism.
Details of the health condition of the twins Rahma and Ramla
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah explained that the 13-month-old twins, Rahma and Ramla, arrived in the Kingdom on May 6, 2025. The girls share a lower abdomen and pelvis, and each has two fully formed lower limbs. Detailed medical examinations revealed that they share a colon and rectum, along with a complex overlap in their urinary and reproductive systems, in addition to sharing a pelvic bone.
Regarding the functional status of the organs, the head of the medical team outlined the delicate health challenges. Ramla suffers from complete atrophy of both kidneys and total kidney failure, necessitating immediate dialysis following the separation surgery. Her sister, Rahma, also suffers from complete atrophy of her left kidney, while her right kidney functions adequately despite the presence of cysts. This necessitates close monitoring of kidney function post-surgery to ensure her condition remains stable.
Stages of the Somali conjoined twin separation procedure and expected risks
Dr. Al-Rabeeah confirmed that the medical team had developed a meticulous surgical plan consisting of eight precise stages, and the operation was expected to last approximately 14 hours. This medical achievement involved 36 specialists, including consultants, specialists, and nursing and technical staff in the fields of anesthesia, pediatric surgery, pediatric urology, orthopedics, and plastic surgery.
His Excellency pointed out that the expected risk rate in this operation reaches 40% due to the accompanying medical complications, stressing that all the details and risks were explained to the twins’ parents, who expressed their full understanding and confidence in the Saudi medical team.
A proven track record for the Saudi program for separating twins
The Saudi program for separating conjoined twins is a landmark in modern medicine. Over the past 35 years, the medical team has studied and evaluated 156 cases from various continents. The program has successfully performed separation surgeries on 68 conjoined twins from 28 countries, highlighting the high level of expertise among Saudi medical professionals and the advanced equipment available in the Kingdom's hospitals.
In closing, Dr. Al-Rabeeah expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the wise leadership for the unlimited support that the health sector and humanitarian work receive, asking God to crown the operation with success and to grant the twins a speedy recovery.
