Twin girls conjoined at the top of their heads are separated by team of 30 medics in gruelling 11-hour op
Abby and Erin Delaney are now lying in separate beds for the first time while they recover at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
A TEAM of more than 30 doctors and nurses has successfully separated conjoined twin girls during an 11-hour op.
Sisters Erin and Abby Delaney, who were joined at the top of their heads, are now recovering in intensive care after last week's surgery.
Their parents Heather and Riley learned they were expecting conjoined twins about 11 weeks into Heather's pregnancy.
Scans revealed the girls suffered a condition called craniopagus, the least common type of conjoined twins.
Abby and Erin shared key blood vessels and a protective membrane around their brains, making the surgery incredibly difficult.
But now after the marathon surgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, doctors said they are hopeful for the twins' recovery.
Dr Jesse Taylor said: "Separating conjoined twins is a very complex surgery followed by a long and complicated recovery, but we are very hopeful for a positive outcome."
The girls' parents are now hopeful they will be able to take their daughters home to North Carolina later this year.
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"When we go home, it's going to be a big party," mum Heather said.
";Welcome home, baby shower, first birthday."
Dr Taylor is a plastic surgeon and helped lead a multidisciplinary team of more than 30 people.
The team included doctors, nurses, surgeons and other medical staff across various specialities, including neurosurgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery.
The operation required intensive planning and preparation by the team.
Doctors marked monitors and equipment with green or purple tape, one colour assigned to each little girl.
Co-lead neurosurgeon Dr Gregory Heuer said: "During the separation surgery, our team first meticulously separated the infants' shared blood vessels and dura, the tough protective membrane surrounding both brains, then moved on to separate the sagittal sinus, the most difficult portion of the operation.
When we go home, it’s going to be a big party. Welcome home, baby shower, first birthday
Heather Delaney
"Finally, we divided our team into two halves, one for each of the girls, and finished the reconstruction portion of the surgery."
After discovering Heather was carrying conjoined twins at 11 weeks, Heather and Riley faced a wait to find out if separation surgery would be possible.
After an ultrasound at 19 weeks, the family travelled to Philadelphia to discuss their options with doctors at the hospital.
The couple returned home, but travelled back to the hospital every two weeks for appointments.
At 26 weeks, the medical team recommended that Heather stay in Philadelphia for the remainder of her pregnancy.
Abby and Erin were born at the hospital by C-section in July last year.
They were 10 weeks premature and each weighed 2lbs 1oz.
Ever since then the twins have stayed at the hospital where teams have provided physical, occupational and speech therapy teams developed innovative treatments and exercises for the girls.
Now, for the first time in their lives, Abby and Erin lie side by side in different beds, while they recover from their separation surgery.
Doctors said it is likely both will face more surgery at a later date.
The operation marked the 23rd time the hospital has separated conjoined twins in the past 60 years, and the first time a team there has separated twins joined at the top of their heads.
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