Complications. We will also learn about treatment and recovery from this injury. An enlarged spleen. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree.
A ruptured spleen occurs after blunt force trauma to the left side of the abdomen. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. Chiotoroiu AL, Venter DM, Negoi I, et al. Malaria is another infectious disease associated with a ruptured spleen. 2014;109(6):731-40. study If this pain is accompanied by pain in the left shoulder, it’s almost always indicative of a ruptured spleen.
The spleen damage may be minor and heal on its own, or may be a major injury with significant life threatening internal bleeding that needs emergency surgery to remove the spleen. Further interventions may be needed to manage the bleeding of a ruptured spleen. If the bleeding is not severe and the person is stable, they will need to be monitored in the hospital for awhile. Considering trauma is the fourth leading cause of death, that indicates a lot of ruptured spleens and livers. Diseases that can increase the risk of splenic rupture include: The main symptom of a ruptured spleen is severe pain in the abdomen, especially on the left side. Most ruptured spleens are due to trauma, in which case most of the time they are surgically removed. Of patients with traumatic injuries to multiple body systems, 10 to 12 percent have abdominal trauma. The liver and spleen are the two most commonly injured abdominal organs.
As the circulatory system struggles to get blood to important areas such as the brain, the patient can experience sweating, lightheadedness, fatigue, confusion, and eventually unconsciousness. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2016;26:163-5. This most often occurs due to a car accident, sports injury, or fighting. Recovery can take three to six months until you can resume all previous activity without risk. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Many small or moderate-sized injuries to the spleen can heal without surgery. Shallow breathing. How long it takes to heal a ruptured spleen? The spleen is a small organ located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen under the ribcage (well above and far left of the belly button). The spleen is a small, fist-size organ in the upper left side of your abdomen. The disease that is often associated with a non-traumatic ruptured spleen is mononucleosis, even though the incidence of a ruptured spleen occurs in an estimated .06 to .5 percent of all cases of mononucleosis..
A ruptured spleen occurs when the surface of this organ is injured, which can lead to internal bleeding. An injured spleen can rupture soon after the abdominal trauma or, in some cases, days or weeks after the injury.
2019;9(4):152. doi:10.3390/diagnostics9040152. In minor injuries with little bleeding, there may be abdominal pain, tenderness in the epigastrium and pain in the left flank. If you rupture your spleen, you will likely have pain in the upper left area of your abdomen and it may radiate to your left shoulder. Did you know… We have over 220 college What causes a ruptured spleen? The spleen is part of the lymphatic system, which helps fight infection and also filters the blood. Other organs, such as your liver, will take over some of the spleen's work. How long does it take to heal a ruptured spleen? If you've been diagnosed with an enlarged spleen, ask your doctor whether you need to avoid activities for several weeks that could cause it to rupture. A ruptured spleen (a fist-sized organ located in the left upper abdomen) occurs when the surface of this organ is injured, which can lead to internal bleeding. Death. Policy, Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. You can live without a spleen, though it does h ... A ruptured spleen can have a variable degree of injury. A ruptured spleen can potentially be life-threatening if it is not treated quickly. Some hospitals may try interventional radiological treatment for ruptured spleens. Anyone can earn When to call 911. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. Connect by text or video with a U.S. board-certified doctor now â wait time is less than 1 minute!
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The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. If the injury isn't severe, a person will be admitted to the hospital for observation and may need blood transfusions to restore the blood loss. If available, a CT scan is the best option for evaluating the abdomen and diagnosing a ruptured spleen in a clinically stable patient. CT scans can detect as little as 100 cubic centimeters of blood in the abdomen, an amount similar to about one-third of a can of soda. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency and may result in death from massive internal bleeding. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency that occurs as a result of a break in your spleen's surface.
It may be tender when you touch the area.