2021 AMI Online Salon
Laparoscopic Tech. for Abdominal Cavity Entry
Project Details
- Entrant Name: Ethan Geehr
- Client: Law Firm
- Copyright: Ethan Geehr, 2020
- Medium/software used: Corel Painter
- Final presentation format: PowerPoint slides
- Primary Audience: Jury
Project Description
Defendant lacerated the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava when inserting an Optiview trocar into the abdomen during a routine laparoscopic surgery, killing the patient. Defendant claimed patient was thin, it was difficult to see when he entered the cavity, and the vessels were very close to the abdominal wall. These exhibits countered that argument.The first exhibit demonstrated the proximity of the major vessels to the abdominal wall based on the pre-surgical imaging, and illustrated the anatomical layers of the abdominal wall passed through to enter the cavity. The next exhibit was sequential slides showing the correct technique for inserting the trocar: elevation of the wall, and the visual cues seen in the scope with their relation to the anatomical layers passed through that would let the operator know where they were before and upon breaching the abdominal cavity.
