The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 12 COVID patients today, same as yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 5 with the active virus today, 5 yesterday
- 0 in ICU, 0 yesterday
- 0 on ventilator, 0 yesterday
- 7 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 7 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Dr. Trip Zorn, cardiothoracic surgeon, The University of Kansas Health System
- Letisha Celestine, a COVID patient who had just given birth was being treated at another hospital when she began failing all of the advanced ventilator support available there
- She needed ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, to keep her heart and lungs functioning
- She was able to be transferred to The University of Kansas Health System, one of the few places with an open ECMO device during the height of the pandemic
- After being in a coma for two months, Letisha finally woke up to her new baby Stella
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- ECMO works by allowing a patient’s lungs to rest and recover while giving needed oxygen to the blood
- Letisha was lucky as not everyone who goes on ECMO survives. It is considered a risky last-ditch effort when everything else has failed.
- During the height of the pandemic, there were not enough ECMO devices to help everyone who needed it. Requests were coming from around the country.
Dr. Brigid Flynn, director ECMO services
- It takes special staff and training to keep a patient on ECMO.
- It was originally used on premature babies who needed a few extra days to let their lungs develop. It was not intended for long-term use but has been adapted for that during COVID
- Only patients who are at risk of death because all other options have failed are eligible for ECMO
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- If traveling this summer, it’s best to test yourself for COVID before the trip so you don’t become sick during your trip.
- Even though not required, masks are still a very good idea on public transportation, especially planes.
- The guidance on possible indoor exposure to someone with COVID remains get tested if that exposure has been more than 15 minutes
Monday, May 23 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. It’s a big day in the history of The University of Kansas Health System. Many cancer patients will finally be able to get their life-saving treatment at our new Proton Therapy Center without having to travel hundreds of miles. We’ll take you live inside as the first patients get ready.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
