Conjoined twins in separation op at London hospital

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The conjoined twins have come from Ireland to London for surgery

Conjoined twin boys, who were born in London in December, are to undergo surgery to separate them later.

Four-month-old Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf, who are conjoined at the chest, will undergo surgery at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The operation on the brothers, who are believed to share a liver, could last up to 20 hours.

The boys flew to London from their home in the Irish Republic last month to prepare for the complex operation.

In a statement, the hospital said parents Azzedine and Angie Benhaffaf "would like to thank all the hospitals involved in their boys' care for everything they have done for the family so far, and the public for their good wishes and support."

CONJOINED TWINS Conjoined twins are extremely rare, occurring in as few as one in every 200,000 live births They are created just a few days after conception - most likely by the incomplete splitting of the fertilised egg Most are stillborn, and a proportion of those who are born alive do not survive long afterwards

The hospital said no further details would be released before Thursday.

Edward Kiely, consultant paediatric surgeon at Great Ormond Street said surgical staff at the hospital were the most experienced in Europe at assessing and, if necessary, separating conjoined twins.

The team has previously dealt with 21 separations and nine inoperable cases.

Since the brothers arrived home to East Cork in January after their birth at the University College London Hospital, a special fund has been set up to help their parents cover medical costs.

Mrs Benhaffaf told the Irish Independent on Tuesday the family had been "overwhelmed" by the support they had received since the "Little Fighters' birth".

"Now as they face this critical operation we renew our appeal for everyone's thoughts and prayers... which will help sustain our boys and our whole family at this most important time," she said.

Mrs Benhaffaf also released a poem, which said: "So as we prepare for the surgery ahead, many a tear will be shed... No matter how this will all end, I am forever grateful for the time we did spend."