22.05.2010
Everton teenager Duffy has life-saving surgery
Everton defender Shane Duffy has had life-saving surgery after a freak accident left him with serious liver damage.
Duffy, 18, was playing for the Republic of Ireland against an Irish Juniors eleven in a training match on Friday when he suffered a laceration to his liver in a collision with goalkeeper Adrian Walsh.
After being treated on the pitch by team surgeon Professor John O'Byrne and team doctor Alan Byrne, he was taken to nearby Mater Hospital where surgeon Gerry McEntee performed an emergency operation.
Duffy remains in the hospital's High Dependency ward on Saturday. His blood pressure dropped to dangerously low levels during the operation but was controlled and he is expected to make a full recovery.
O'Byrne said: "Shane collided with a player in a way that you would see thousands of times in football matches. It was a freak injury that in another 100 years of medicine, we may never see again.
"Shane sustained a laceration to his liver and was rushed to the Mater Hospital for emergency surgery.
"Gerry McEntee and the intensive care staff in the Mater must be credited for their expertise and fast response which in no uncertain terms saved Shane's life.
"Shane was stabilised in intensive care after the surgery, which stopped internal bleeding, and this morning is conscious and is in the care of the Mater's high dependency unit, having improved overnight."
Duffy had been scheduled to remain with Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad, solely for training purposes, ahead of next week's friendly matches against Paraguay and Algeria.
Trapattoni added: "I would like to thank Dr. Alan Byrne and Prof. John O'Byrne for their quick reaction to Shane's serious injury.
"As time was critical, had they not acted as they did, Shane's life could have been in more danger than it already was.
"On behalf of the FAI (Irish Football Association), I would also like to praise Prof. Gerry McEntee for conducting the emergency operation and ensuring that Shane was given the best possible attention.
"Shane is very lucky and we wish him a speedy recovery."
Source: © 2010 AFP - Dave Kendall
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