Two conjoined twins separated after daylong operation

A calm feeling filled the operating room at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles after surgeons gently cut the last pelvic bone connecting the sisters and moved on to the reconstruction phase of the marathon operation, said hospital spokesman Steve Rutledge.

Photo: Two conjoined twins separated after daylong operation

Ten-month-old Regina and Renata Salinas Fierros spent their first moments apart when one of them was wheeled to another room late Wednesday so plastic surgeons could begin the reconstruction work.

The Salinas Fierros sisters were born facing each other, joined from the lower chest to the pelvis. They were fused in several places including the liver and genitals and shared a large intestine. Regina was born with one kidney.

During the operation, doctors made an incision at the breastbone and then divided the internal organs.

Several doctors on the 80-person medical team also took part in the 2003 separation of conjoined twins from a set of triplets at the hospital. Wednesday's surgery was considered more complex because it involved more organs.