A ruptured spleen could be a serious medical condition. The upcoming HealthHearty article sheds light on the associated symptoms and treatment options of this condition.
One of the many important parts of the immune system is the spleen. It sits below the rib cage on the left side of the body. This delicate, fist-sized organ works to get rid of encapsulated bacteria and waste products that circulate in the blood. It contains special white blood cells that destroy bacteria. It is also responsible for the production of antibodies and red blood cells in the body. Immature or newly formed blood cells become mature after passing through this organ, whereas cells that have become old or abnormal are also removed by the same organ. Although this organ is not essential for survival, but its absence may make the affected person highly vulnerable to infections.
How to Determine A Ruptured Spleen?
A damaged spleen usually shows a break in its surface caused due to certain factors. This surface is nothing but a capsule-like covering known as the splenic capsule. It protects the organ from a direct injury. However, this cover can break open due to some reasons and result in blood oozing out in the abdominal area. This sort of a damage is considered to be a serious medical emergency, which is most likely to cause a life-threatening internal bleeding.
To understand what a ruptured spleen feels like, one needs to be acquainted with the different symptoms that occur post the damage. The symptoms aren’t many but may be obvious enough to indicate the onset of this problem.
☛ The most important symptom is a feeling of tenderness upon touching the upper left portion of the abdomen, as this is where the organ is located.
☛ Also, the abdominal area may appear a little hard and swollen because of the blood that has leaked out of the damaged organ. Pain in the same region is also common.
☛ This pain might radiate to the left shoulder, as the nerves of this part and that of the left diaphragm share the same point of origin.
☛ There can be some additional symptoms, such as lightheadedness, confusion, blurred vision, and fainting.
☛ Signs of low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate usually indicate that the blood loss has been significant. However, the feeling that you may experience can be quite different from what your doctor may notice while diagnosing this problem.
What Causes a Ruptured Spleen?
• Incidents like car crashes, falls, fights, and contact sports may cause a mild to serious injury in the upper left abdominal area or lower left chest. In some people, it may take place immediately, post the injury, while in some, it may occur a few days after the injury.
• Another leading cause could be the condition of spleen enlargement.
Treatment Options
☛ As mentioned earlier, a spleen that is ruptured is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention. However, there are also cases in which the injury heals with adequate rest for a certain period of time.
☛ Mild injuries usually do not require a surgery. But, the patient may have to be hospitalized to carry out the treatment using non-surgical procedures.
☛ Severe cases, which may be life-threatening, are dealt with the help of a surgical repair of the organ or the removal of a part or the whole organ.
To summarize, it is necessary to be cautious to avoid situations which may injure the spleen. If you are into sports, then take adequate protection to prevent any injuries. And, if you have a spleen enlargement problem, then talk to your doctor about how to deal with it to keep complications at bay.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
