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Does Cutting The Brachial Artery Lead To Death?

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Posted on Tue, 1 Apr 2014
Question: Is it a problem if you should happen to cut the brachial artery? My husband said that you will bleed to death in minutes. But I have read that that is not necessarily true. Who is right?
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Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (54 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Depends upon multiple factors. Detailed Answer: HI. It all depends whether the artery is cut but skin is intact enough to make a big hematoma and its pressure sufficient to stop further bleeding- in this incidence there may not be a death. If the cut is open to bleed , yes it can cause death in minutes, as the artery is sufficiently large and being near to the heart the pressure is going to be more. In spite of this fact we do see many patients with accidental amputation in which the artery is open but the patient is still alive. This is probably due to the protective mechanism of the body- the artery goes into spam, development of clot, lowering of the blood pressure all may save the patient. Both are partially right. By its position, this artery is difficult to get a cut.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19778 Questions

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Does Cutting The Brachial Artery Lead To Death?

Brief Answer: Depends upon multiple factors. Detailed Answer: HI. It all depends whether the artery is cut but skin is intact enough to make a big hematoma and its pressure sufficient to stop further bleeding- in this incidence there may not be a death. If the cut is open to bleed , yes it can cause death in minutes, as the artery is sufficiently large and being near to the heart the pressure is going to be more. In spite of this fact we do see many patients with accidental amputation in which the artery is open but the patient is still alive. This is probably due to the protective mechanism of the body- the artery goes into spam, development of clot, lowering of the blood pressure all may save the patient. Both are partially right. By its position, this artery is difficult to get a cut.