Conjoined twins op 'successful'

Chief of Surgery Leo Donnan: "To see them as separate human beings is a pretty amazing moment"

A 25-hour operation to separate conjoined twins has been successful, say doctors in Australia.

Bangladeshi twins Trishna and Krishna, who are nearly three years old, were joined at the top of the head.

A 16-strong team began the delicate operation separating the girls' brain tissue at 2300GMT on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Chief of Surgery Leo Donnan said both girls are "doing well" following the surgery at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.

'Surreal'

Neurosurgeons divided the children's brains at approximately 1100 local time (0000GMT).

Mr Donnan said the moment it was done was "rather surreal".

"There was relief but I think everyone realised there was still a long way to go and that the girls have a very difficult time ahead of them," he said.

He said the next step for the pair was reconstructive surgery, involving the girls' own skin, bone grafts and other artificial material.

This is due to take several hours, with the girls then expected to remain in an induced coma for some days, the AFP news agency reported.

via BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Conjoined twins op 'successful'.