The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 38 COVID patients today, same as yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 20 with the active virus today, 23 yesterday
- 5 in ICU, same as yesterday
- 3 on a ventilator, same as yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Morning Rounds – Summary of Current Events
Dr. Sean Kumer, associate chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Yesterday, the University of Kansas Health System received and cared for multiple shooting victims with non-life threatening injuries. Kansas City Kansas Police reported that three of those victims were police officers.
- The Kansas City Kansas police have asked that their agency provides further updates on the medical conditions of their officers, and we expect them to have an update later today.
- We had multiple victims coming into the hospital and to care for all of them at the same time, it is challenging, but this is something that we are completely prepared for and we're extremely proud of how the team responded.
- We have a great system here with the trauma team, the emergency department and all that support a situation like this.
- We're so grateful that the injuries to our police officers that keep us safe every day are non-life threatening and they are progressing well in our care.
Focus Topic
Beth, colon cancer survivor
- In 2019 at age 31, Beth was diagnosed with colon cancer.
- Six days after the diagnosis via colonoscopy, she had surgery to have part of her colon removed.
- Beth had two small children during her recovery and her family support system was excellent in helping her.
- She recommends being an advocate for yourself, especially if something feels off. Don’t just accept when a doctor tells you this in normal if you don’t feel something is right.
Dr. Anup Kasi, hematologist & medical oncologist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
- Based on the newest numbers on colorectal cancer from the American Cancer Society, cases are dropping for people aged 65 and older, but at the same time cases are creeping up for adults under the age of 50. This is why younger people need to be aware of the signs and the symptoms.
- Colorectal cancer is a preventable cancer, if it starts as a polyp, we can cut it out. Even very early stage one type of cancers could be cured with polypectomy through a colonoscopy.
- The blood test that we used in Beth was one of our first patients that we did this new blood test on. It's basically a what we call a circulating tumor DNA, so we take the blood sample, and look for floating tumor cells and tumor cell fragments or DNA in the bloodstream. There's a signature we develop with that and compare that to the surgical tissue where the cancer tissue was resected and see if the signature matches.
- This helped with bypassing some of her chemotherapy treatment during COVID.
COVID Updates
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, The University of Kansas Health System
- We had some good data before the pandemic showing decrease in tuberculosis rates. But we have started to see increasing rates and that is a multifactorial issue.
- During the pandemic, a lot of surveillance programs went away and many treatment programs weren’t happening when people weren't going to the doctor.
- We just need to be vigilant and continue to have our surveillance programs so we can get people who may not have resources, get access to resources for diagnosis and treatment as well.
Friday, April 7 is the next Morning Medical Update. After a heart attack and triple bypass, one patient developed a completely blocked crucial artery. We’ll show you the dramatic before and after pictures, and tell you about the procedure that saved his life.
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