Separated Twins in Good Health, Says Health Minister
Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said the condition of the twins he separated last Friday is stable.
Al-Rabeeah visited them at the King Abdul Aziz Medical City of the National Guard on Thursday.
A team led by Al-Rabeeah undertook the operation on Abdullah and Salman at the order of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The parents of the twins were also present during the minister's visit.
"The twins, who have started waking up from sedation, are showing signs of response to their parents and the medical team," the minister said, adding that they showed remarkable improvement.
Al-Rabeeah said all vital body functions of the babies are in good condition. "The digestive system has started working. Doctors are tube-feeding milk to the babies. Abdullah's only kidney is working normally" the minister said.
He added that their artificial respiratory system will stay, but next week it will gradually be brought down until total removal is possible.
"So far they have not shown any indications of complication, or problem with their surgical wounds," he said.
The medical team consisting of 30 experts and other staff had operated for more than nine hours to separate the two babies.
Globally renowned for the separation of conjoined twins, Al-Rabeeah has successfully separated conjoined twins from countries such as Poland, Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
Al-Rabeeah was recently awarded the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Science in appreciation of his contributions to the development of the health sector and to other humanitarian medical services on a global level. This award is for distinguished personalities who have dedicated their lives to the development of medical science in the Arab region.
Since its establishment in 1990, around 28 physicians and volunteers have won the prize. Winners have included Americans, Britons, Australians, Italians, Germans and a Finn besides winners from the Middle East.
Al-Rabeeah became the Kingdom's health minister in 2009. Prior to his appointment as minister, he was the chief executive officer of National Guard Health Affairs at the King Abdulaziz Medical City.
Arab News
