Surgeons hope to separate Siamese twins

Surgeons are today hoping to separate year old Siamese twin girls in an operation that will involve more than 50 people, including reconstructive surgeons and neurosurgeons.

‘‘The surgery itself is only the first phase of helping the twins,’’ said Dr Jorge Lazareff at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Centre.

‘‘This process won’t be complete until both girls leave the hospital with the same happy smiles that they have now.’’

Surgery on the girls, who are joined at the head, was to begin thus afternoon.

Maria Teresa and Maria de Jesus Quiej-Alvarez celebrated their first birthday on July 25. Only about 2% of conjoined twins are attached at the top of the skull. The girls were born in rural Guatemala.

Healing the Children, a non-profit group, arranged to bring the sisters from Guatemala to Los Angeles. The UCLA Medical Centre doctors are donating their skills, but the hospital bill is still expected to top £1m (€1.59m), officials said.