Methods and Apparatuses for Stimulating Blood Vessels in Order to Control, Treat, and/or Prevent a Hemorrhage

A method of preventing an anticipated hemorrhage in an artery or vein of a lower limb of a patient using at least one electrode in electrical communication with a pulse generator, the method comprising:

• arranging the at least one electrode at a location proximate a surface of the patient's artery or vein, wherein said artery is at least one of a femoral artery, popliteal artery, anterior tibial artery, posterior tibial artery, peroneal artery, dorsalis pedis artery, and plantar arch or said vein is at least one of external iliac vein, femoral vein, perforating vein, great saphenous vein, small saphenous vein, anterior tibial vein, posterior tibial vein, and dorsal venous arch and wherein said location is at least 1 cm upstream from a location of an anticipated hemorrhage;
• and
• causing the pulse generator to generate an electrical stimulus administered to the artery or the vein through the at least one electrode, wherein the electrical stimulus has a pulse duration, a pulse amplitude, and a pulse frequency and wherein said pulse duration, said pulse amplitude, and said pulse frequency are selected such that the electrical stimulus is effective to cause vasoconstriction in said artery or said vein and thereby prevent said anticipated hemorrhage.