# severed carotid artery **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074 "2011-11-16T00:24:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jaxnative1210](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@Jaxnative1210](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaxnative1210)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/21 "2011-11-16T12:11:35Z")
upstairs and across from the “whachu talkin bout, Willis”?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/22 "2011-11-16T12:43:24Z")
[Circle of](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_willis) [Willis](http://www3.americanradiology.com/imggallery/RADIOLOGY/mri/COW0001.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/23 "2011-11-16T13:43:46Z")
> [@blood63](#): > > There was definitely at least a foot long stream of blood and it was spurting. Would that happen if it was the jugular? I’d expect it to shoot at least 10 feet horizontally if it were arterial. It’s possible it was arterial, but I’m still betting jugular. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/24 "2011-11-16T14:17:54Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > So the Wiki article claims it was a carotid injury but without any supporting evidence, and with the very reference pointing to that statement outright saying “jugular.” Another hockey player with a carotid injury is mentioned in references 4 and 8; that could have been part of the confusion, but it’s sloppy writing. If Malarchuk really had a carotid injury, you should be able to pull up a real reference to it somewhere. Whoever wrote that part of the article was very sloppy. The discussion page brings up the subject, and gives some circumstantial “proof” that it was the carotid. I’'d change the article to jugular to match the reference, but I really don’t care enough to get in an edit war. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/25 "2011-11-16T15:48:40Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Not to get picky, but “survive” is not the same as “able bodied and mentally whole”. No, I wouldn’t want to depend on the Circle of Willis in that manner either, I’m just saying _maybe_ it might be possible though the odds of Major Permanent Problems is probably really high. Being a hockey goaltender it would be impossible to determine if he ever was mentally whole. 😉 Oddest group of athletes on the planet. As to his physical performance, Malarchuk never was a great goalie pretty average numbers and pretty close to a 50/50 win/loss ratio. It might be worth noting that his Save Percentage actually increased after returning from the injury. However that might just further the argument that you have to be brain damaged to play goalie in the first place. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/26 "2011-11-16T15:57:47Z")
That makes me wonder from an evolutionary stand point why this area is not protected more. That something that can kill you in minutes if cut is not protected more seems weird. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/27 "2011-11-16T16:09:51Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > That makes me wonder from an evolutionary stand point why this area is not protected more. Because we’re not perfect; we’re just “good enough” for most of us to survive long enough to reproduce. The fact that we exist is proof that the existing protection scheme has been adequate for survival of the species. FWIW the area is not defenseless. The carotids are covered by skin and several muscles, and there is an active defense system (arms with which to fend off an attack, and legs with which to flee the scene). ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/28 "2011-11-16T17:15:11Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > FWIW the area is not defenseless. The carotids are covered by skin and several muscles, and there is an active defense system (arms with which to fend off an attack, and legs with which to flee the scene). Not to mention that if you have any time to prepare for an attack, you can pull your chin down and hunch your shoulders up, nicely protecting much of that area. Thanks for the input on the “proof” that it was really the internal carotid; it looks like someone’s citing “video evidence” without any link/reference. I think I’ll trust the quotes from the former combat medic who attended him, plus the man himself who says the doctors working on him told him it was the jugular. I Googled and found transcribed and scanned articles from that date and everything says “jugular.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/29 "2011-11-16T18:19:37Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Having watched the video, I’m unsure. The jugular vein, when opened, will pour out blood at a very good clip, and will gush out a bit more with each respiration. An artery, when opened, will spray blood out many, many feet with each pump of the heart. I’ve seen it hit the ceiling at times. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I’d expect it to shoot at least 10 feet horizontally if it were arterial. **QtM** , it’s posts like these that make you a memorable Doper. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/30 "2011-11-16T18:35:30Z")
That was one hell of a video. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/31 "2011-11-16T18:35:56Z")
This [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BcIgFj3b8g&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL)shows the trail of blood on the ice from the Zednik injury. It is at least 90 feet from the goal line to the red line at center ice (might be closer to 95 feet at First Niagara Center). Wikipedia describes it as a partly severed external carotid artery. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/32 "2011-11-16T19:27:38Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I’d expect it to shoot at least 10 feet horizontally if it were arterial. > > It’s possible it was arterial, but I’m still betting jugular. Wouldn’t the pressure from the adjacent carotid cause pulsation? **Covered\_In\_Bees!** , a partly severed vein or artery is actually more dangerous. A fully severed artery will snap back into the muscle tissue and, at least, slow bleeding, while if only partly severed, it will be held open. That said, a fully severed carotid is unsurvivable. For that matter, a fully severed jugular is likely unsurvivable as well. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/33 "2011-11-16T19:29:56Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > This [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BcIgFj3b8g&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL)shows the trail of blood on the ice from the Zednik injury. It is at least 90 feet from the goal line to the red line at center ice (might be closer to 95 feet at First Niagara Center). Wikipedia describes it as a partly severed external carotid artery. Now **THAT** is an arterial blood splatter pattern! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/34 "2011-11-16T20:05:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > **QtM** , it’s posts like these that make you a memorable Doper. Did I ever tell you about the patient whose dialysis fistula (a high pressure shunt, artery connect to vein) ruptured in my office? Blood on 4 walls, floor and ceiling! Place looked like an abattoir. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/35 "2011-11-16T20:35:18Z")
Did he live? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/36 "2011-11-16T21:14:15Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Did he live? The proper way to ask this question on teh intarnets is, “did he died?” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/37 "2011-11-16T21:25:02Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > The proper way to ask this question on teh intarnets is, “did he died?” And if not, did he bring pie? ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/38 "2011-11-16T21:28:55Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Did he live? Yes. Both individuals discussed in this thread survived and returned to professional hockey in a matter of weeks. Modern medicine is amazing. However both only played professionally for a few more seasons. Malarchuk went on to coaching, and Zednik is, or was, playing in the European professional leagues. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/39 "2011-11-16T21:58:14Z")
I was referring to QtMs parient - sorry for the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074/40 "2011-11-16T21:59:00Z")
Malarchuk ended up accidently shooting himself in the chin with a .22 rifle a few years after the hocky accident. He survived that too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severed-carotid-artery/603074.md?page=3)