SUCCESSFUL separation surgery was performed in Saudi Arabia on 13-month-old Fijian conjoined twins Dicecea and Jesepeli Kikau.

The sisters, born joined at the lower abdomen and pelvis in a condition known as omphalo-ischiopagus tetrapus, underwent an almost 13-hour procedure to separate their liver, bowel, urinary tract and anal canal.

Mother Akeneta Vulimaiigiladi said she was nervous when the girls were wheeled into the operating theatre, but that her nerves eased as she watched via video link.

“We just kissed them goodbye, and we wished our babies well,” Vulimaiigiladi said.

Abdullah Al Rabeeah, surgical lead at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, said the operation went better than expected.

“The two girls are doing well so far despite the complexity of surgery,” Dr Al Rabeeah said.

The hospital performed the procedure for free under its Saudi Conjoined Twins Program after hospitals in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico wanted large up-front payments, the Fijian government said.

The twins, born eight weeks premature and with a triplet sister named Hossana, arrived in Riyadh in late July with parents Akeneta and Watisoni Vulimaiigiladi.

Before surgery, the parents gave the twins new Arabic names, Noorah for Jesepeli and Sarah for Dicecea.