That's from a study on the high side other list it as 1 in 100,000 depending on the sample.
This include all procedures under general anesthesia including cardiac and procedures on the really sick people.
In the young healthy population it's closer to the 1 in 100,000.
However this underscores some of the issues when posters say, he just should get it done last, when they thought he may not need it but could need it in the future. It's very unlikely someone would die but it is a possibility. Dont go under general anesthesia unless you have to. They may not have even done it in this case. They may have just doped him up and done a nerve block on his arm.