Oops.. there goes the femoral artery

[fastsandslash]

I had a friend of my parents who accidentally got her femoral artery cut during a surgery and survived. I know that this artery is important, as it is a very large artery and apparently she was very lucky that she didn't need an amputation, but I just wanted to know what were the chances of surviving a cut to the proximal superficial (common femoral) compared to a cut at the superficial femoral, or a cut to the distal branches of the femoral artery.

Poor patient, she is on crutches, and poor surgeon (looking distraught: "I have never done this before."). I remember him as the doctor that attempted to look at my bung knee x-ray... the wrong way round.

[sadfriend]

I just had a friend whose femoral artery was accidentally cut during surgery...and he didn't make it. He bled to death.

[Darby]

It depends on the type of cut and how soon the mistake is recognized, I would think...