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MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: Please watch this entire video before caring for your drain. This video will teach you how to take care of your surgical drain. Surgical drains remove fluid from under your skin near your surgical site. This helps prevent infection and encourages healing. A surgical drain consists of a drain tube that runs from your surgical site to a bulb that collects the fluid. You strip the drain tube to keep it clear and remove any clots or blockages. Then you empty the bulb when it is half full, or as instructed by your health care provider. You will need alcohol wipes, a measuring cup, and a drainage record sheet. Be sure to wear disposable gloves, if your health care providers says you should. Be careful not to pull on the tubing. You should not feel any tugging where the tube enters your skin. Step one. Wash your hands with soap and water and then dry them. Step two. Put on disposable gloves, if your health care providers says you should. Step three. Look for clots or blockages that may prevent the fluid from flowing out of the tube and into the bulb. Some clots may be hidden inside the tube, under your skin. Step four. Loosen the clots by gently squeezing the tube surrounding them. Step five. Use one hand to hold the drain tube in place where it leaves your skin. Step six. Use your other hand to pinch the tube with an alcohol wipe between your finger and thumb. Step seven. Slide your pinched fingers along the tube to force any fluid out of the tube and into the bulb. You may need to repeat steps five through seven several times to clear the tube. Try not to let go of the tube between steps. If fluid remains in the tube, or you accidentally let go, repeat steps five through seven using a new alcohol wipe. Do not allow the bulb to become more than half full. Too much fluid in the bulb reduces its ability to remove fluid from underneath your skin. Now you will begin emptying the bulb. Step eight. Hold the bulb lower than your incision, so that fluid moves out of the tube and into the bulb. Step nine. Point the bulb away from your body. Never squeeze the bulb before taking the cap off. Step ten. Remove the cap. Never touch the opening with your bare hands. Step 11. Hold the measuring cup under the bulb. Step 12. Turn the bulb upside down, and squeeze the fluid into the cup. Step 13. After removing the fluid, continue squeezing the bulb and use a new alcohol wipe to clean the top. Step 14. While still squeezing the bulb, put the cap back on the top. The depressed bulb creates suction that continuously removes fluid from underneath your skin. Step 15. Read the amount of fluid in the measuring cup. Step 16. Write the amount on your record sheet. Step 17. Empty and rinse the cup as directed. Keep the bulb below the level of your incision to help the fluid out of the tube and into the bulb. Contact your surgeon if you notice the amount of fluid suddenly increases or decreases, the odor of the fluid changes, the fluid contains pus or becomes thicker over time, your drain tube falls out or your incision opens, your incision is red, swollen, painful, or has pus coming out, or your temperature is 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
"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
"I have found that the personalized medical illustrations prepared by Medical
Legal Art have been very accurate and helpful. The medical doctors, both
treating physicians and expert witnesses, have commented on the accuracy and
professionalism of the medical illustrations. Most importantly, your prompt
service and attention upon even short notice has been tremendous. I can
certainly say that the medical illustrations prepared by Medical Legal Art
have assisted us in bringing cases to a successful resolution."
Paul L. Redfearn
The Redfearn Law Firm, P.C.
Kansas City, MO
"Medical illustrations are essential evidence in personal injury litigation and MLA is simply the best I've found at producing high-quality illustrations. Your illustrators are not only first-class artists, but creative and responsive. Your turn around time is as good as it gets. My clients have won over $60 million in jury verdicts and I can't recall a case which did not include one of your exhibits. On behalf of those clients, thanks and keep up the great work!"
"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
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.
