California Surgery To Separate Conjoined Twins Begins

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — Surgery is under way in Northern California to separate twin girls joined at the chest and abdomen.

The complex procedure to separate Angelina and Angelica Sabuco, of San Jose, began at Stanford University's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Hospital spokeswoman Reena Mukamal says that if all goes according to plan, the 2-year-olds will be out of surgery by mid-afternoon.

The operation will involve cutting along the girls' skin and muscle and separating their diaphragms and livers.

Lead surgeon Gary Hartman says severing the liver will be the riskiest part of the procedure because of potential blood loss.

Hartman has done five separation procedures at medical centers around the country and says he expects the operation to go well.