Conjoined twin girls head home after successful separation surgery at Shanghai

Three-month-old conjoined twin girls were headed home following a successful separation surgery at a Shanghai hospital.

Photo: Conjoined twin girls head home after successful separation surgery at Shanghai

The girls were pronounced in strong condition by doctors at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University following their recovery from surgery earlier this month, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Pictures in local newspapers showed the twins' young mother holding two drowsy babies swathed in elaborate handknit sweater suits, booties and caps.

"Actually, their situation after the operation is much better than we expected," Xinhua quoted Zheng Shan, vice president of the hospital, as saying. "They have a good appetite and they have gained 1.3 kilograms (nearly 3 pounds) since March," he said.

The babies were born Jan. 30, joined at the chest and abdomens. They shared a liver but otherwise had separate organs. The cost of the surgery was covered by donations, the reports said.

Shanghai hospitals have conducted separation surgeries on nine pairs of conjoined twins in the past five years. Eight pairs survived, the Xinhua report said.