CNN's Sanjay Gupta performs brain surgery in Haiti

A young girl injured in last week's earthquake in Haiti was diagnosed as having concrete embedded in her skull by US military doctors. A call went out and Sanjay Gupta replied.

A 12-year-old girl was evacuated to an American military ship after being injured last week during the 35-second earthquake that hit Haiti last Tuesday. It was discovered that a chunk of concrete was embedded in her skull and the services of a neurosurgeon, something in short supply in Haiti, were urgently required. The Public Affairs Officer aboard the Nimitz-class USS Carl Vinson, Erik Schneider, reports that they contacted a CNN producer who called CNN's offices in Atlanta who then put them through to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, their Chief Medical Correspondent and also a practicing neurosurgeon, who was in Haiti reporting on the aftermath of the earthquake.

With the help of a CNN producer, we called CNN in Atlanta who then patched us through to Doctor Gupta in Port-au-Prince.

Gupta was assisted in the surgery by Los Angeles surgeon Henri Ford and the ship's own surgeon Kathryn Berndt and it is being reported that the child is expected to make a full recovery. Gupta is quoted as saying:

Someone got a hold of our international desk. They said there was an urgent call from the Carl Vinson. So I put a call in to them and there was something about a head injury. I was honoured to help out. I have a profound respect for the capabilities of the US Navy and the medical team on board the Carl Vinson.

It is being reported that Gupta pulled off the surgery between filing reports on the situation on the ground in Haiti.