Sanjay Gupta MD – Battlefield Breakthroughs airs 7:30am Sat/Sun

In the first of a two-part special, as the U.S. prepares for the troop drawdown in Afghanistan, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports with CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr on the medical breakthroughs developed on the battlefields.  From amazing, long-distance robot surgeries, to extraordinary prosthetics, to creative physical rehabilitation techniques, effective pain management, and swift field evacuations, doctors are learning useful techniques they are now applying back here in the U.S.  The medical lessons learned are impacting medical care at civilian rehab centers, doctor’s offices, and trauma centers – including the surgical care that saved the life of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).  Dr. Gupta also interviews Afghan War veteran, biomedical engineer, and Harvard professor Kit Parker, PhD about what he learned in war to help troops wounded by explosives, that he’s teaching others treating the wounded here in the U.S.

Also, CNN Fit Nation triathlete Kas Seerla talks about how she’s meeting the challenge of training for her open water swim.

This special edition of SANJAY GUPTA MD will air on Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10 at 7:30am ET.