The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 45 COVID patients today, 50 Thursday. Other significant numbers:
- 22 with the active virus today, 24 Thursday
- 5 in ICU, 6 Thursday
- 2 on a ventilator, 3 Thursday
Key points from today’s guests:
Kyle Mellard, Wichita Police Officer and facial reconstruction patient
- Was shot in the head while on duty with the Wichita Police Department.
- Had to wear a halo brace on his head for 6 weeks.
- About 5 months after the shooting, he underwent a 9-hour surgery to put his face back together.
- Could not go through this process without the support of family and friends.
Dr. Ravi Garg, plastic and craniomaxillofacial surgeon, The University of Kansas Health System
- Kyle’s jaw was shattered and he had a spinal injury.
- His mouth did not initially heal properly and the bone became infected, so this was a bigger problem that had to be solved.
- He had to undergo a “living bone transplant” of moving bone from his leg to place it to his jaw.
- Dr. Garg often uses leg bones to help reconstruct the face. In his case, he was shot in the other leg, so he had only one good “donor” leg to use.
- Kyle is such an inspirational patient for so many reasons.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Recent research on bats is interesting because the beginnings of COVID involved bats.
- If this research is one more piece about understanding how they fight off viruses or transmit viruses, that can be helpful for future treatments.
- We need to continue our research and science knowledge.
Monday, February 13 is the next Morning Medical Update. For decades we've known smoking tobacco can lead to lung cancer. But more than 30 million Americans do it anyway. You’ll meet a team that is driving that number down by engaging people right at the side of their hospital bed. They’ll share their expert advice on quitting smoking.
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