Femoral Artery Rupture in an Auto Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. The body depends on its network of arteries, veins, and capillaries to carry oxygen and nutrients to various organs and tissues. There is a difference in the blood pressures of the arteries and the veins. The arteries have higher blood pressure, and the veins have lower blood pressure. Because of this difference, blood flows from high to low, carrying its contents everywhere it goes. If there is a blockage or rupture of these blood vessels, the flow could stop. This can lead to catastrophic consequences within a matter of minutes. Some of the statistics that have been published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding blood vessel disease include:
- More than 600,000 people die of blood vessel disease in the United States on an annual basis.
- The disease is responsible for about 25 percent of all deaths every year.
- Blood vessel disease is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women.
- The most common type of blood vessel disease is coronary artery disease, which can cause a heart attack.
Blood vessel disease often starts with the slow buildup of plaque, which gradually blocks the flow of blood throughout the vessel. However, traumatic injuries to the blood vessels can be just as severe and happen more quickly. One of the largest blood vessels in the body is called the femoral artery. This artery is responsible for carrying blood to the legs. A rupture of this artery can be deadly.
Femoral Artery Rupture: A Car Accident
The femoral artery is located in the thigh. People have both a right and a left femoral artery. This is a high-pressure blood vessel, and injuries to this vessel can cause someone to bleed to death quickly. Because the artery is large and the pressures inside of it are high, people lose a lot of blood quickly. In an auto accident, the most common way this rupture happens is through penetrating trauma, such as that from glass or metal. In addition to direct penetrating injury, blunt trauma to the leg can cause a femur fracture. When this happens, a fragment of the bone could slice through the femoral artery. Symptoms of this blood vessel rupture include:
- Large, active bleeding
- Swelling of the thigh
- Color changes
- Light-headedness and dizziness
- A cold body temperature
Someone who has experienced a rupture of this valuable artery requires emergent treatment to prevent exsanguination and death.
Treatment of a Femoral Artery Rupture
The treatment of this serious injury always starts with an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes, it is evident that a large artery has been ruptured. In this case, the individual will be taken straight to an operating room. However, sometimes, the tear is more subtle. In this case, an angiogram is often performed to look for a tear. In this procedure, a radio-labeled dye is injected into the bloodstream and imaging is used to search for dye and blood that leaves the blood vessel system. Once the tear is identified, a trained surgeon will close it and stop the bleeding.
Unfortunately, this serious tear can have life-threatening consequences. Individuals may miss school or work as they recover. Once medical care has been obtained, meeting with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento can be helpful. You and your family could be entitled to financial compensation.
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Personal Injury Lawyers in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. The femoral artery is a crucial blood vessel. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact me for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.
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