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MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: The cardiac cycle consists of the sequence of events in the heart through one complete heartbeat. The cardiac cycle begins with systole when the ventricles of the heart contract, squeezing the blood out of the heart into the arteries. Diastole completes the cardiac cycle as the ventricles relax and fill with blood. Blood pressure is a measure of the force exerted by pumped blood on the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is higher during systole and lower as the arteries relax during diastole. Normal systolic blood pressure should be below 120, and diastolic pressure below 80. High blood pressure or hypertension is chronic elevated blood pressure. Hypertension is associated with the following risk factors, age, ethnicity, genetic factors, obesity, smoking, excessive salt consumption, and alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, stress, and chronic conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and kidney disease. These factors all contribute to an increased stiffness or resistance in the peripheral arteries throughout the body. This increased resistance causes increased blood pressure the heart must push against. As the heart works harder, its walls thicken, causing the volume of the ventricles to decrease. With each cardiac cycle, the heart ejects less blood. The brain recognizes this and signals to the heart to pump faster, eventually leading to heart failure and damage to other organs such as the brain and the kidneys. Treatments for hypertension include lifestyle changes and drug therapy. Lifestyle changes include losing weight, regular exercise, reducing salt and sugar intake, eating a low-fat high-fiber diet, stopping smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and stress management. Drug therapy is intended to reduce blood volume or relax blood vessels, both of which decrease blood pressure. Antihypertensive drugs include diuretics, which rid the body of extra water and salt, beta blockers, which block the effects of adrenaline and ease the heart's pumping action, angiotensin receptor blockers or ARB's, which block angiotensin, a protein that causes arteries to narrow, angiotensin converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors, which reduce production of angiotensin, and calcium channel blockers or CCB's, which relax blood vessels letting blood flow more easily and, thereby, lowering blood pressure. ♪ [music] ♪
"Medical illustrations are essential during trial for any medical malpractice case. The people at MLA have the uncanny ability of creating medical illustrations that simplify the most complex of medical concepts and human anatomy to a lay audience. The exhibits of MLA allow experts to easily describe complex concepts and human anatomy in a manner that could
not be done otherwise.
In addition, their custom illustrations show in great detail the extent of
injuries suffered and the devastating effects they have had on the client's
anatomy. These custom illustration can show, side by side, the body before
and after a catastrophic injury. The effect of this juxtaposition is
unmatched by any testimony that can be adduced at the time of trial.
Even jurors after trial have commented on the ease with which they grasp
medical concepts and anatomy once the MLA exhibits were introduced and
used by my experts. Even judges who have "seen it all" are thoroughly
impressed by the detail and sophistication of the illustrations.
"This past year, your company prepared three medical illustrations for our cases; two in which we received six figure awards; one in which we received a substantial seven figure award. I believe in large part, the amounts obtained were due to the vivid illustrations of my clients' injuries and the impact on the finder of fact."
Donald W. Marcari
Marcari Russotto & Spencer, P.C.
Chesapeake, VA
"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
"Whether it's demonstrating a rotator cuff tear, neck movement a few
milliseconds after rear impact, or a proposed lumbar fusion, the Doe Report
represents an instant on-line database of medical illustration for
health-care and legal professionals.
Illustrations can be purchased 'as is' or modified within hours and sent
either electronically or mounted on posterboard. An illustration is worth a
thousand words, as juries perk up and look intently to capture concepts
that are otherwise too abstract. Start with good illustrations, a clear and
direct voice, a view of the jury as 12 medical students on day one of
training, and your expert testimony becomes a pleasure, even on cross
examination. An experienced trial lawyer should also emphasize these
illustrations at the end of trial, as a means of visually reinforcing key
concepts covered.
As a treating physician, I also use these accurate illustrations to educate
my own patients about their medical conditions. The Doe Report is an
invaluable resource, and its authors at MLA have always been a pleasure to
work with."
Richard E. Seroussi M.D., M.Sc.
Diplomate, American Boards of Electrodiagnostic Medicine and PM&R
Seattle Spine & Rehabilitation Medicine
www.seattlespine.info
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.