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MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: The right and left coronary arteries arise from the aorta and supply the heart with blood, nutrients and oxygen. Coronary artery disease, also known as CAD, is a condition in which one or both coronary arteries can no longer deliver sufficient blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. In the bloodstream, cholesterol, a lipid synthesized in the liver and obtained from the diet, and fatty acid compounds, such as triglycerides, bind to either low-density lipoprotein, called LDL, or high-density lipoprotein, called HDL, and circulate throughout the body. When the endothelial lining of the coronary arteries becomes damaged, LDL-bound cholesterol and triglycerides adhere to the artery wall. The build up of LDL, also known as bad cholesterol, and triglycerides inside the artery wall forms a lesion called a fatty streak and triggers an immune response. Monocytes enter the lesion and transform into macrophages. These cells digest cholesterol and become foam cells, forming an atheroma, or plaque, with a lipid core. This inflammatory process involving fatty plaque accumulation and abnormal cellular changes in artery walls is called atherosclerosis and is a major cause of CAD. Over time, an advanced atherosclerotic plaque may weaken and rupture. In an inflammatory response, platelets and arthryocytes form a blood clot called a thrombus, occluding the artery. Insufficient blood flow, called ischemia, occurs and may eventually lead to tissue death, known as infarction. Treatment for CAD can involve lipid-lowering medications, such as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, which inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver and help remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. Aspirin and other antiplatelet medications prevent thrombis formation by reducing platelet aggregation. Beta blocker medications slow down the heart rate, improving blood and oxygen supply to the myocardium. Angioplasty is also known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or PTCA, percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI, or balloon angioplasty. During the procedure, the physician threads a guide wire into the femoral artery and into the aorta. The physician passes a catheter with a small balloon into the narrowed coronary artery lumen. When the balloon is inflated, then deflated, it flattens the plaque against the artery wall, opening the lumen. In some cases, a wire mesh tube called an endovascular stent may be placed over the balloon and then expanded inside the artery to maintain the open lumen. ♪ [music] ♪
"We got a defense verdict yesterday! Your exhibit was extremely helpful in
showing the jury how unlikely it is to damage all four of the nerve branches
which control the sense of taste."
Karen M. Talbot
Silverman Bernheim & Vogel, P.C.
Philadeplphia, 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
"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
"Medical Legal Art has always performed quality and efficient work. The
doctors that review the exhibits are always amazed at the precise
descriptions and drawings."
Michael Beckman
Viles Law Firm, P.A.
Fort Meyers, FL
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.
