elevenblade

elevenblade t1_j9e0ztx wrote

Surgeon here: You wouldn’t want to connect a major artery to a major vein — that would result in high pressure oxygenated blood pouring rapidly into the vein, raising pressure in the venous system and wasting oxygen. For large blood vessels we tie them off with ligatures (surgical thread, basically) or clip them shut with metal or plastic clips. Bleeding from smaller vessels is handled with cautery, usually electrocautery or sometimes ultrasonic cautery.

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