A worker trying to set rebar for a concrete swimming pool slips, and one of the sharp pieces of steel punctures his calf. EMR Aiko is dispatched to the scene, where she finds the patient seated, pale, and holding a cloth against his leg. When Aiko gently moves the cloth, she sees blood spurt out of the puncture in the patient’s calf. What conclusion would Aiko MOST likely draw from the bleeding she sees coming out of this puncture wound?

Question

The rebar must have punctured an artery.

The rebar must have punctured a vein.

The rebar must have damaged several capillaries.

The rebar must have produced an avulsion in the leg.

Answer 1

Based on the description of blood spurting out of the puncture in the patient's calf, Aiko would most likely conclude that the rebar must have punctured an artery. Arterial bleeding is characterized by bright red blood that spurts with each heartbeat, while venous bleeding typically produces a steady flow of darker red blood. Damage to capillaries would result in minor bleeding, and an avulsion involves tearing away of tissue, which is not indicated by the provided details. Therefore, the correct conclusion is:

The rebar must have punctured an artery.