# Death from ruptured artery - a bit gruesome
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-from-ruptured-artery-a-bit-gruesome/811941
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 6, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-from-ruptured-artery-a-bit-gruesome/811941 "2018-04-06T21:51:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-from-ruptured-artery-a-bit-gruesome/811941/1 "2018-04-06T21:51:03Z")
Sadly, my father has terminal cancer. He has multiple tumours and is unlikely to survive more than a couple of months. Because of the location of the most obvious tumour in one of his carotid glands his doctors have highlighted a rupture of the carotid artery as a possible scenario. My question is, how swiftly would he likely lose consciousness and would it be a ‘good’ death, bearing in mind the alternatives?
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### Author:  [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-from-ruptured-artery-a-bit-gruesome/811941/2 "2018-04-06T22:26:12Z")
IANAD, but based on my ERT training, and a quick double-check online right now, a ruptured artery in that location kills virtually everyone who has it quickly, before they can reach a hospital.
Rapid blood loss causes shock and then unconsciousness. There may be some pain, but given the tumors, it might not be noticeable amongst the other pain, and his treatments.
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-from-ruptured-artery-a-bit-gruesome/811941/3 "2018-04-06T23:11:19Z")
Hopefully a real doctor will answer this, because I’m not one. But wouldn’t a ruptured carotid result in unconsciousness in 5-10 seconds, and death in a few minutes?
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### Author:  [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-from-ruptured-artery-a-bit-gruesome/811941/4 "2018-04-06T23:26:08Z")
I assume you meant to say “parotid” gland as the location of the tumor. That being said the consequence of carotid rupture may depend on whether the vessel ruptured into esophagus/trachea, out of the skin or into soft tissue where it may build up enough pressure to slow bleeding.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2018, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-from-ruptured-artery-a-bit-gruesome/811941/5 "2018-04-07T10:41:36Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#):
>
> IANAD, but based on my ERT training, and a quick double-check online right now, a ruptured artery in that location kills virtually everyone who has it quickly, before they can reach a hospital.
>
> Rapid blood loss causes shock and then unconsciousness. There may be some pain, but given the tumors, it might not be noticeable amongst the other pain, and his treatments.
I worked at a hospice for several years and I think Sunny Daze’s post is accurate. Be prepared for the potential for a very large amount of blood. If this was a possibility we used to discreetly keep a stack of brown (not white) towels at the patient’s bedside.
Wishing you the best.
mmm