Surgery to separate Saudi conjoined twins postponed

Separating Saudi conjoined twins Sheikha and Shumukh, which was booked for Thursday morning has been postponed after the twins’ sudden increase in body temperature.

 The head of the medical team, Doctor Abdullah Al-Rabiah, confirmed that the operation has been postponed until the twins’ health situation stabilizes so the surgery can be performed.

The medical procedure comes in consistence with the directions of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed container Salman to separate the twins at the King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City.

Dr. Rabiah said, the twins Sheikha and Shumukh are four-month-old girls. Each one weighs 5.2 kilograms, and they are joined at the lower abdomen and pelvis area. They both have full limbs and share the pelvic area, the lower digestive system and the urinary and reproductive system.

Surgery is expected to last for 12 hours with seven stages in which around 25 doctors and specialists in addition to technicians and nurses will participate.