The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 37 COVID patients today, 41 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 18 with the active virus today, 19 yesterday
- 1 in ICU, 1 yesterday
- 0 on a ventilator, 0 yesterday
- 19 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 22 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Christie Ellis, breast cancer patient
- Discovered a non-cancerous lump in breast, but it was the kind that would continue growing and needed to be removed
- After removal, a lump returned and she needed another procedure called a DIEP flap, considered a muscle-sparing type of procedure
- DIEP stands for the deep inferior epigastric perforator artery, which runs through the abdomen
- Once she recovered from the surgery, she realized it was the best thing for her, and feels great today
Dr. Julie Holding, plastic surgeon, The University of Kansas Health System
- In a DIEP flap, fat, skin, and blood vessels are cut from the wall of the lower belly and moved up to the chest to rebuild the breast
- Using your own tissue is going to be far more durable than implant-based reconstruction
- It’s a complicated procedure which can take up to eight hours
- When safe, the nipple can be reconstructed. Otherwise, 3-D tattoo can be done.
Dr. Rebecca Farmer, plastic surgeon, the University of Kansas Health System
- Because the DIEP flap procedure requires special surgical training as well as expertise in microsurgery, not all surgeons can offer DIEP and it's not available at all hospitals
- Since belly tissue is being used, often nerves can be transferred to the graft location in the chest, with the potential of restoring sensation
- Procedure can be done immediately after mastectomy or delayed for a few months while inflammation goes down
- Emphasizes to women that breast reconstruction is not vanity but vital for their well-being
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Good to see health system COVID numbers falling, even though community circulation is still fairly high
- Noted that pandemic has slowed HIV research by at least two years, which is having a big impact on those patients
- Discussed reasons why more people are not vaccinated despite HHS study showing it has prevented 330,000 deaths and 700,000 hospitalizations
Monday, October 17 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. What started as the flu led to a life-threatening infection in one man's heart. But a second opinion gave Kyle Warren a new chance at life, and a new heart. You’ll meet this father living life to its fullest and the mother of the young man who gave the ultimate gift.
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