Filipino conjoined twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa were successfully separated following a complex, hours-long surgery in Riyadh on April 23, the Saudi Embassy in Manila said Friday.
The operation, sponsored by the Saudi government, was described as “one of the most complex cases worldwide,” involving dozens of specialists from multiple medical disciplines. It was carried out at the King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital.
According to the embassy, the procedure lasted approximately 18 and a half hours and was conducted under the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Mohammed bin Salman.
Image from Riyadh Xpress
“After eighteen-and-a-half hours of hope and anticipation, the twins’ mother expressed her profound joy at the success of the separation surgery, which has opened for her daughters the prospect of independent life and renewed hope for the future,” the embassy said in a statement.
The twins had been joined at the head, a rare and high-risk condition. They arrived in Saudi Arabia in May 2025 and underwent extensive medical evaluation prior to the operation.
Image from Riyadh Xpress
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, who leads the humanitarian program’s medical and surgical team, said the case was particularly challenging due to the positioning of the twins’ heads, the extensive sharing of cerebral venous sinuses, and the intertwining of brain tissue.
He added that the risks were further heightened by Klea Ann’s existing health conditions, including cardiac muscle insufficiency and severe kidney atrophy leading to complete renal failure.
Lead surgeon Muatasim Al-Zoubi said the procedure was carried out in five stages, with the participation of around 30 consultants, specialists, and medical staff covering anesthesia, intensive care, advanced imaging, and plastic surgery.
Before the operation, doctors estimated the risk level at around 50 percent.
Al Rabeeah said the successful separation marks the 70th procedure completed under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, a long-running humanitarian initiative that has treated patients from across the globe.
The twins are now under close medical observation as they begin the next phase of recovery.
Via PNA
