The multidisciplinary team, medical and surgical, successfully completed the separating operation of the Syrian Craniopagus Conjoined Twins (Tuka & Aykiin) that took place on the 14th of February 2016 in King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital, in King Abdulaziz Medical City – Riyad after approximately fourteen hours. The surgery was considered a major challenge to the capabilities of the Saudi medical team due to the complexity of the case and the extent in which the twin’s heads were conjoined.
The Separating operation was performed throughout six phases. The first phase started by putting the twins under anesthesia and placing in all the needed catheters. The Second phase started with making the incision and removing some tissue expanders through the Craniotomy assisted by Dr. Manaf Al Azzawi, Dr. Nasser Al Hodaib, Dr. Ahmad Al Oraidi, Dr. Moutasem Azzubi and Dr. James T. Goodrich along with Dr. Ahmed Al Ferayan – Head of Surgical Team.
Microscopic Separation (Neurosurgery) was mostly covered in the third phase where the two brains were finally separated, along with the delicate veins and arteries. This phase was performed by Dr. Ahmed Al Ferayan, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Yamany, Dr. Ali Bin Salamah, Dr. James T. Goodrich in addition to Dr. Ahmad Al Oraidi.
The surgical team then proceeded onto the most crucial and difficult fourth stage. This stage included separating the skull's posterior wall after turning the twins over to get to the other side of the head. Separating the remainder of the attached and portion of the brain, the twins were completely separated from one another.
In the fifth phase, the surgical team divided into two sub-teams, one with each of the twins. This phase included the reconstruction of the both the dura and skull for both girls.
The final stage had the team of neurosurgeons, with the support of the plastic surgeons, closing the wounds and placing the bandages.
Upon completion of the operation, the separated twins were transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for recovery and observation.