Conjoined twin girls separated after 17-hour operation

Conjoined twins in California have become separate toddlers after a 17-hour operation.

Two-year-olds Eva and Erika Sandoval were born joined from the chest down, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Father Arturo Sandoval called the surgery at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford a "major success".

The twins are expected to remain in intensive care for up to two weeks, hospital officials said.

Before surgery, the girls shared a bladder, liver, parts of their digestive system and a third leg. Their parents say each girl retains portions of the organs they shared.

Each still has one leg. The third limb was used for skin grafts to cover surgical wounds.

Stanford surgeons told the newspaper both girls would probably need a prosthetic leg.

AP