This animation may only be used in support of a single legal proceeding and for no other purpose. Read our License Agreement for details. To license this image for other purposes, click here.
MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: Your surgeon will perform a colon resection, which is the removal of part of your large intestine, if you have colorectal cancer or a number of other conditions. The colon is a long muscular tube located at the end of the intestinal tract. After the stomach and small intestine digest food, the remaining material passes through the colon, where water and electrolytes are absorbed. The residual stool passes into the last six inches of the colon, known as the rectum, where it is stored until released. Most of the conditions that are treated by colon resection occur in the layer of cells that cover the inside surface of the colon, known as the mucosal lining. Colon resection is usually performed to treat colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers. Other conditions it is used to treat include blockage of the intestine, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, trauma to the intestine, colon polyps, especially when numerous and large, complications of diverticulitis, and ischemic bowel. Before the surgery you'll be given general anesthesia to put you to sleep for the duration of the operation. A breathing tube will be inserted through your mouth and into your windpipe to help you breathe. Your surgeon will begin by making an incision in your abdomen over the part of the colon that needs to be removed. Your surgeon will clamp your colon in two places, on each side of the section to be removed. He or she will cut through the colon at each clamp and remove the diseased portion in between, along with a margin of healthy colon and surrounding tissue. Finally, your surgeon will sew the two loose ends of the colon together. After your surgeon has completed the procedure, he or she will insert one or two drains to collect fluid that may accumulate around the surgery site, close the wound with sutures or staples, and cover it with bandages. After your procedure, you'll be taken to the recovery area for close observation and will be given antibiotics and pain medications, as necessary. You will receive fluids and nutrition through an IV, then gradually progress from a liquid to a solid diet over several days. You will be encouraged to get out of bed and move about as soon as possible.
"Your firm is great to work with and, most importantly for me, you get the
job done on time and with the utmost professionalism. You should be proud of
all those you employ, from KJ to Ben B. I've been especially pleased over
the years with the work of Brian and Alice, both of whom seem to tolerate my
idiosycratic compulsion to edit, but I've not found a bad apple in the bunch
(and, as you know, I've used your firm a bunch!).
I look forward to our continued professional relationship."
Kenneth J. Allen Kenneth Allen & Associates
Valparaiso, IN
"I wanted to take some time out to let you know what a wonderful job you did
with the 'collapsed lung/fractured rib' illustrations. They were both
detailed and accurate. My medical expert was comfortable working with them
and he spent at least an hour explaining to the jury the anatomy of the
lungs, the ribs and the injuries depicted in the illustrations. Needless to
say, the jury was riveted to the doctor during his testimony.
The jury returned a verdict for $800,000.00 and I'm sure we would not have
done so well if not for the visualizations we were able to put forth with
your assistance. Lastly, my special thanks to Alice [Senior Medical
Illustrator] who stayed late on Friday night and patiently dealt with my
last minute revisions."
Daniel J. Costello
Proner & Proner
New York, NY
"The Doe Report's Do-It-Yourself Exhibits program enables easy customization
of complex medical exhibits at a reasonable expense and in a timely manner.
Practically speaking, custom medical exhibits are no longer an unthinkable
luxury, but a routine necessity."
Jack S. Cohen
Levy, Angstreich, Finney, Baldante & Coren
Philadelphia, PA
"It is my experience that it's much more effective to show a jury what
happened than simply to tell a jury what happened. In this day and age where
people are used to getting information visually, through television and
other visual media, I would be at a disadvantage using only words.
I teach a Litigation Process class at the University of Baltimore Law Schooland use [Medical Legal Art's] animation in my class. Students always saythat they never really understood what happened to [to my client] until theysaw the animation.
Animations are powerful communication tools that should be used wheneverpossible to persuade juries."
Andrew G. Slutkin Snyder Slutkin & Kopec Baltimore, MD
Medical Legal Art creates medical demonstrative evidence (medical
illustrations, drawings, pictures, graphics, charts, medical animations,
anatomical models, and interactive presentations) for use during legal
proceedings, including research, demand letters, client conferences,
depositions, arbitrations, mediations, settlement conferences, mock jury
trials and for use in the courtroom. We do not provide legal or medical
advice. If you have legal questions, you should find a lawyer with whom you
can discuss your case issues. If you have medical questions, you should seek the advice of a healthcare provider.