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Riyadh: Surgery to separate 13-month-old Cameroonian Siamese twins will be performed at the Riyadh-based King Abdul Aziz Medical City of the Saudi Arabian National Guard on Saturday.
Preliminary tests for the 18-hour operation have been completed, said Dr Abdullah Al Rabee'ah, a Saudi pediatric surgeon and an expert in Siamese operations.
Al Rabee'ah, who is the director general of the National Guard health affairs, said the examinations of the babies since their arrival in Saudi Arabia revealed that they are conjoined at the breast and abdomen and share intestines, liver, anus and urinary system.
Complications
Speaking at a press conference here, Dr Al Rabee'ah added that diagnosis also revealed an atrophy. He pointed out that the chances of successful operation is not more than 65 per cent.
"Compared to the complexity of the operation, the percentage is considered good," he said, adding that the decision to separate the twins was taken after a number of important developments like the twins' reaching an ideal weight of 9.5 kg.
The surgeon noted that the babies, both females, have completed 13 months and were in Saudi Arabia for the operation at the expense of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.
So far 12 Siamese babies of various nationalities have been successfully separated in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Al Rabee'ah explained that a medical team, comprising more than 65 experts from various medical and health specialties, would assist him in the operation.
The team comprises more than 10 Saudi female doctors and nurses, he observed.
More await surgery
Dr Al Rabee'ah said more Siamese babies from Saudi Arabia and Oman are waiting to complete the required medical tests before an operation could be performed soon.
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