The main symptom of a ruptured spleen is pain on the left side of the abdomen, which is usually accompanied by increased sensitivity in the area and may radiate to the shoulder. In addition, low blood pressure, dizziness, mental confusion and fainting can occur in severe bleeding.
It is important for the person to go to the hospital immediately so that tests can be done to identify the spleen injury, requiring imaging tests, such as CT and abdominal ultrasound. In addition, when your doctor suspects bleeding, surgery may be recommended to stop the bleeding and complete the diagnosis.
- Spleen rupture occurs mainly by trauma to the abdomen.
- Being more common in contact sports practitioners or by traffic accidents.
- For example.
Upon confirmation of a ruptured spleen, your doctor may set the best treatment option so as not to endanger a person’s life. Most of the time, urgent surgery is recommended to completely remove the spleen and prevent further bleeding, hypovolemic shock and death. In addition, blood transfusions are recommended because the person may have lost a lot of blood.
In less severe cases, where the injury is not as severe and does not compromise the person’s life, the doctor may indicate a blood transfusion and removal only from the injured part of the spleen. In fact, the total elimination of the spleen can make the person more vulnerable to infections, as this organ is responsible for the production of immune cells responsible for defending the body against infections.
Learn more about spleen removal surgery
A ruptured spleen is mainly caused by trauma to the abdominal area and is usually the result of:
It is also important to report that there is an increased risk of spleen rupture in the case of splenomegaly, i.e. when the spleen is enlarged.