RIYADH, 4 October 2007 — The formerly conjoined Saudi twins, Abdullah and Abdulrahman, who underwent separation surgery successfully at the King Abdul Aziz Medical City (KAMC) three months ago, were shifted yesterday from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the pediatric ward.
“The two infants have passed all critical stages and are now in stable condition,” Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, head of the Multidisciplinary Surgical Team told Arab News, adding that they now function as normal babies. The 16-hour surgery was performed on July 2 under the supervision of Dr. Rabeeah who stated that the patients would be sent home in a couple of weeks after a period of observation by pediatricians.
Abdullah and Abdulrahman were born at the hospital by Caesarean section on Dec. 13. At birth, the twins had several abnormalities such as an imperforate anus (unformed), extrophy of the cloaca (urinary bladder and colon outside the abdomen with a defect in the abdominal wall) with a communication between the bowel and urinary bladder. The twins shared a liver, large bowel, urinary and genital system and one pelvis.
The twins’ father, Nawaf Al-Tamimi, who witnessed the transfer of his children from the ICU to the pediatrics ward, thanked the medical team.
