Saving a life

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Air Force neurosurgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Randall McCafferty performs surgery on a young Afghan girl suffering from an arachnoid cyst or “water on the brain” at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here. Without the help of McCafferty’s expertise the young girl, who is now in good condition, was not expected to survive. (Courtesy photo)

Air Force neurosurgeon saves Afghan child’s life

Published Nov. 27, 2007
By 1st Lt. Clinton Nawrocki
Task Force Med

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- An Air Force neurosurgeon assigned to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here recently saved the life of an 8-month-old Afghan girl.

The young child, from Parwan Province, was originally taken by her parents to El Salem Egyptian Field Hospital with symptoms including excessive head growth, eye abnormalities and irritability.

After Egyptian physicians referred her to CJTH, Air Force neurosurgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Randall McCafferty, a native of Mission Viejo, Calif., diagnosed a congenital brain abnormality, called an "arachnoid cyst" at the base of the young girl's brain.

"The cyst had caused blockage of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, thus causing hydrocephalus [commonly known as "water on the brain"]," said Dr. McCafferty. "Left untreated, the condition could have eventually been fatal."

Thanks to the recent deployment of neurosurgical assets to Afghanistan, Dr. McCafferty was able to operate on the child Nov. 12 and again Nov. 20, removing the cyst and leaving the girl in good condition.

"I was happy that I could bring specialized training to this region that did not previously exist and that with those skills I was able to provide an opportunity at a future life for both the child and her family that likely would not otherwise exist. In addition, I was fortunate to have the support of command, my colleagues and the ICU staff at CJTH to be able to deliver this care," McCafferty said.