Conjoined Bismarck twins separated at Mayo

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) Mayo Clinic surgeons say they've successfully separated five-month-old conjoined twins from Bismarck.

Mayo says Abygail and Madysen Fitterer were placed on separate operating tables at 12:27 p-m, and surgical teams are now working on reconstructing their chest walls.

The girls were brought into the operating room at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester just before seven this morning. Surgeons made the first incision at 9:50 a-m.

The Fitterer twins were born joined at the chest and shared their front chest wall. Their livers were also joined and they shared some intestine.

The surgeons are scheduled to give a news conference early this evening, once the procedure is over.

Abygail and Madysen are the daughters of Stacy and Suzy Fitterer.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 01-03-07 1352CST | save this article / add to your favorites list