Ruptured spleen
Encyclopedia
Rupture of the capsule of the spleen
, an organ in the upper left part of the abdomen
, is a situation that requires immediate medical attention
. The rupture of a normal spleen can be caused by trauma, such as a car accident.
and phagocytosis, and by producing antibodies. It also stores approximately 33 percent of all platelets in the body.
and possible removal of the spleen, but it is becoming more common to simply monitor the patient to make sure the bleeding stops by itself, and to allow the spleen to heal on its own.
If an individual's spleen is enlarged, as is frequent in mononucleosis
, most physicians will not allow activities (such as contact sport
s) where injury to the abdomen could be catastrophic.
Patients whose spleens have been removed must receive immunizations to help prevent infections such as pneumonia. This helps to replace the lost function of this organ.
or hemolytic anemia
may receive a splenectomy
.
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
, an organ in the upper left part of the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
, is a situation that requires immediate medical attention
Medical emergency
A medical emergency is an injury or illness that is acute and poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long term health. These emergencies may require assistance from another person, who should ideally be suitably qualified to do so, although some of these emergencies can be dealt with by the...
. The rupture of a normal spleen can be caused by trauma, such as a car accident.
Function In the Body
The spleen is an organ in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen that filters blood by removing old or damaged blood cells and platelets. While not essential to sustain life, the spleen performs protective immunological functions in the body and contrary to popular belief, is not useless. It also helps the immune system by destroying bacteria and other foreign substances by opsonizationOpsonin
An opsonin is any molecule that targets an antigen for an immune response. However, the term is usually used in reference to molecules that act as a binding enhancer for the process of phagocytosis, especially antibodies, which coat the negatively-charged molecules on the membrane. Molecules that...
and phagocytosis, and by producing antibodies. It also stores approximately 33 percent of all platelets in the body.
Treatment
Because a splenic rupture permits large amounts of blood to leak into the abdominal cavity, it can result in shock and death. In the past, this would routinely be treated with emergency surgerySurgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and possible removal of the spleen, but it is becoming more common to simply monitor the patient to make sure the bleeding stops by itself, and to allow the spleen to heal on its own.
If an individual's spleen is enlarged, as is frequent in mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...
, most physicians will not allow activities (such as contact sport
Contact sport
Many sports involve a degree of player-to-player or player-to-object contact. The term "contact sport" is used in both team sports and combat sports, medical terminology and television game shows, such as the Gladiators and Wipeout, to certain degrees...
s) where injury to the abdomen could be catastrophic.
Patients whose spleens have been removed must receive immunizations to help prevent infections such as pneumonia. This helps to replace the lost function of this organ.
Other Reasons For Removal
The spleen isn't only removed for emergency reasons, but sometimes for preventative purposes. Patients who have blood disorders such as thalassemiaThalassemia
Thalassemia is an inherited autosomal recessive blood disease that originated in the Mediterranean region. In thalassemia the genetic defect, which could be either mutation or deletion, results in reduced rate of synthesis or no synthesis of one of the globin chains that make up hemoglobin...
or hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia due to hemolysis, the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells , either in the blood vessels or elsewhere in the human body . It has numerous possible causes, ranging from relatively harmless to life-threatening...
may receive a splenectomy
Splenectomy
A splenectomy is a surgical procedure that partially or completely removes the spleen.-Indications:The spleen, similar in structure to a large lymph node, acts as a blood filter. Current knowledge of its purpose includes the removal of old red blood cells and platelets, and the detection and fight...
.
Signs of Possible Rupture
- Abdominal painAbdominal painAbdominal pain can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease. Making a definitive diagnosis of the cause of abdominal pain can be difficult, because many diseases can result in this symptom. Abdominal pain is a common problem...
- PainPainPain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
in the left shoulderShoulderThe human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which... - HypotensionHypotensionIn physiology and medicine, hypotension is abnormally low blood pressure, especially in the arteries of the systemic circulation. It is best understood as a physiologic state, rather than a disease. It is often associated with shock, though not necessarily indicative of it. Hypotension is the...
- TachycardiaTachycardiaTachycardia comes from the Greek words tachys and kardia . Tachycardia typically refers to a heart rate that exceeds the normal range for a resting heart rate...