2-year-old Filipino conjoined twins separated successfully in Riyadh

Two-year-old Filipino conjoined twins Olivia Faith and Jiana Faith Manuel experienced a rare medical feat when they were successfully separated by a team of medical specialists in a children's hospital in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. 

The girls, who were born in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, underwent a six-stage surgery that lasted around six hours under the care of a team of 22 multidisciplinary medical specialists at King Abdulla Specialist Children's Hospital in Riyadh, per Al Jazeera. 

Speaking to the twins' mother before the surgery, as reported by Arabian Media, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, head of the girl's medical and surgical team, said, "All of my team are ready. The government has...directed us to do our best and I'm sure we will do our best. Hopefully, they will come back...as you are imagining."

Olivia and Jiana were born conjoined at the chest and abdomen; a condition called thoraco-omphalopagus conjoining, according to an article published in the Journal of Neonatal Surgery. 

"Jiana and Olivia...shared heart membranes and the liver," explained Dr. Ali Al-Shahri, who was part of the twins' medical team.

The girls arrived in Riyadh with their parents in January and underwent extensive preparations leading up to the surgery, according to the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Manila.

Following the successful surgery, the twins were transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. 

"Their overall condition is stable, thanks to God almighty. We are performing the routine post-operative procedures, monitoring vital functions, fluids, and providing respiratory support," said Al-Shahri.

According to the doctor, in cases like the girls', recovery time is usually three to five days. After which, they are moved out of intensive care. 

Jiana and Olivia's surgery was carried out under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme, fully funded by the Saudi government, including after-care. They are the fourth Filipino conjoined twins to be separated under the program.

The program is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's humanitarian and medical efforts in giving care to individuals from 28 countries afflicted with complex and critical medical cases, per the embassy. Jiana and Olivia's surgery was the 72nd similar procedure performed under the program since it was established in 1990.