Surgery continues on conjoined twins

Neurosurgeons have spent the night trying to separate conjoined Bangladeshi twin girls at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.

It has been nearly 24 hours since doctors began the slow, meticulous task of separating the brains of twin girls Krishna and Trishna, who are joined at the head.

A hospital spokeswoman says the twins are coping well, but anaesthetist Dr Ian McKenzie says it will be some days before doctors know whether they are out of danger.

Surgery began on the toddlers at 8:30am (AEDT) yesterday, but work is continuing on dividing shared brain tissue and skull bone, after which plastic surgeons will separate the last of the bone matter.

Dr McKenzie says the operation will continue for some time after the twins are separated.