A team of skilled medical professionals accomplished a remarkable feat by successfully separating 10-month-old conjoined twins in an 11-hour surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The successful procedure marked a significant medical achievement and brought hope and relief to the twins’ families. The medical team’s expertise and dedication played a crucial role in ensuring the twins’ well-being and paving the way for their individual journeys ahead.

The hospital said sisters Erin and Abby Delaney, of North Carolina, are recovering in the intensive care unit after last week’s procedure.

The surgery was carefully orchestrated, down to marking monitors and equipment with green or purple tape, one colour assigned to each girl.

“Separating conjoined twins is a very complex surgery followed by a long and complicated recovery, but we are very hopeful for a positive outcome,” Dr. Jesse Taylor said in a news release.

Taylor is a plastic surgeon who helped lead the multidisciplinary team of about 30 people.

It marked the 23rd time the hospital has separated conjoined twins over the past 60 years and the first involving children joined at the top of their heads, the least common type of conjoined twins. That condition is known as craniopagus.

Their shared blood vessels and a protective membrane around their brains were carefully separated before the team split into two groups to perform reconstruction involving each patient.