Surgical Illustrations

These surgical illustrations by freelance medical illustrator and anatomy professor Susan Decker depict detailed operative techniques and surgical anatomy across a range of specialties. Each image is designed to support surgical education, clinical communication, and publication. Designed to support:

  • Surgical training – clarifying procedural steps and anatomical relationships for students and professionals

  • Clinical reference – providing accurate visuals for surgical planning, documentation, and consultation

  • Patient education – illustrating procedures in a clear and approachable way to improve understanding and communication

Examples include illustrations of open and minimally invasive techniques, procedural sequences, and anatomical dissections—each created to convey precision, clarity, and clinical relevance.

Surgical Illustrations: Transplant, Vascular, and Orthopedic Procedures

Pancreas Transplant Surgery

Av Fistula Surgery

    Distal Radius Repair

- About These Illustrations -

  • Pancreas Transplant Surgery: Detailed surgical illustration showing the anatomical placement of a transplanted pancreas, including vascular connections to major arteries and veins. Designed for surgical education and patient understanding.

  • AV Fistula Surgery: Visualization of an arteriovenous fistula creation for dialysis, highlighting the surgical connection between artery and vein in the arm to establish reliable long-term access.

  • Distal Radius Repair: Step-by-step depiction of open reduction and internal fixation of a distal radius fracture using plates and screws, with attention to bone alignment and hardware placement.

Scalp, Neurological & Obstetric Procedures

Scalp Reconstruction

Internal Uterine Massage

Trigeminal Nerve Repair

- About These Illustrations -

  • Scalp Reconstruction Surgery:Medical illustration of scalp reconstruction surgery showing layered scalp anatomy and local flap repair used to reconstruct defects after trauma or tumor excision.

  • Internal Uterine Massage: Medical illustration showing the technique and purpose of internal uterine massage during postpartum care, with labeled anatomy of the uterus and supporting structures.

  • Trigeminal Nerve Repair: Microsurgical view of the trigeminal nerve and surrounding structures, demonstrating repair of nerve damage for pain relief or sensory restoration.

Neurological, Obstetric & Cardiac Procedures

Cardiac Valve Repair

Splenic Tumor Removal

Endoscopy and Peptic Ulcer

- About These Illustrations -
  • Transplant Vessel Suturing: Close-up surgical scene showing vascular suturing during an organ transplant, highlighting blood vessel structure and connection for perfusion.
  • Splenic Tumor Removal: Surgical approach to the removal of a splenic tumor, featuring surrounding abdominal anatomy and vascular considerations in a partial or total splenectomy.
  • Endoscopy and Peptic Ulcer: Endoscopic view of the upper GI tract showing a diagnosed peptic ulcer, used to explain both diagnostic and therapeutic techniques during endoscopy.

Abdominal, Gastrointestinal & Transplant Surgery

Transplant Vessel Suturing

Gastric Bypass Surgery

        U-Clip Placement

- About These Illustrations -

  • Transplant Surgery Vessel Suturing
    This illustration shows the precise suturing of blood vessels during transplant surgery, a critical step to restore circulation and ensure proper function of the transplanted organ.

  • Gastric Bypass Surgical Procedure
    This illustration depicts the key steps of gastric bypass surgery, where a small stomach pouch is created and connected to the small intestine to support weight loss and improve metabolic health.

  • U-Clip Placement in Cardiac Bypass Surgery
    This illustration shows the use of U-Clip devices for vessel suturing during cardiac bypass surgery, highlighting precise vascular attachment and secure blood flow restoration.

Robotic Surgical Access, Reconstruction & OR Configuration

Abdominal Port Placement

Isoperistaltic Colonic Interposition

Robotic Surgery Set-up

- About These Illustrations -
  • Abdominal port placement for robotic surgery
    This diagram shows how small incisions (ports) are strategically placed in the abdomen to allow robotic instruments and a camera to access the surgical area safely and efficiently.
  • Isoperistaltic colonic interposition
    This illustration demonstrates a reconstructive technique in which a segment of the colon is used to replace or bypass the esophagus, maintaining the natural direction of intestinal movement.
  • Operating room setup for robotic surgery
    This image outlines the arrangement of the operating room during robotic surgery, including patient positioning, placement of the robotic system, and coordination of the surgical team for optimal workflow.

Ophthalmic, Orthopedic & Cardiac Surgery

LASIK Eye Surgery

Proximal Radius Repair

 Posterior Cardiac Valve Repair

- About These Illustrations -

  • LASIK Eye Surgery: Cross-sectional diagram of the eye during LASIK, showing creation of the corneal flap and laser reshaping of the corneal surface to correct vision.

  • Proximal Radius Bone Repair: Orthopedic surgical repair of a proximal radius fracture using internal fixation, showing alignment of bone fragments and placement of hardware.

  • Posterior Cardiac Valve Repair: Surgical exposure of the posterior heart region during valve reconstruction, illustrating valve structure, suture placement, and heart anatomy in detail.