The spleen is a fist-sized organ in the upper left side of your abdomen, next to your stomach and behind your left ribs. It's an important part of your immune system, but you can survive without it. This is because the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions. Spleen pain is usually felt as a pain behind your left ribs. It may be tender when you touch the area. The spleen can become damaged or may burst rupture after an injury, such as a blow to the abdomen, a car accident, a sporting accident or broken ribs.
Sometimes if you lie down and raise your legs, you can feel the pain at the tip of your left shoulder. The spleen can become swollen after an infection or injury.
It can also become enlarged as a result of a health condition, such as cirrhosis , leukaemia or rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors can often tell if you have an enlarged spleen by feeling your abdomen. The spleen is not usually removed if it's just enlarged. Instead, you'll receive treatment for any underlying condition and your spleen will be monitored. You may be prescribed antibiotics if there's an infection.
You'll need to avoid contact sports for a while, as you'll be at greater risk of rupturing the spleen while it's enlarged. Surgery is only necessary if the enlarged spleen is causing serious complications or the cause cannot be found. You may need an operation to remove your spleen, known as a splenectomy, if it's not working properly or it's damaged, diseased or enlarged. If there's time, you'll be advised to have certain vaccinations before the operation.
This is because spleen removal weakens your immune system and can make you more likely to get an infection. Most operations to remove spleens are carried out using keyhole surgery laparoscopy.
Keyhole spleen removal allows a surgeon to get inside your tummy abdomen to your spleen without having to make large cuts. This means you'll have less scarring and may recover from the operation more quickly. But you'll still need a general anaesthetic. Open surgery is where one large cut is made.
It may be needed if your spleen is too large or too damaged to be removed using keyhole surgery. Often, in emergencies, this is the preferred method.
You'll need a general anaesthetic and may need to stay in hospital for a few days to recover. It's normal to feel sore and be bruised after a splenectomy, but you'll be given pain relief. Like any operation, spleen removal carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection.
You will also be prescribed oral antibiotics to take daily; this is another way to prevent infection.
Still, it's not uncommon to be without a spleen, and many people are able to enjoy full lives without one. Learn more about the liver and its functions. Jan Blice Phone: Email: joanne. Renee Brown-Bakewell Phone: Email: renee. Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:. Pittsburgh, PA In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
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The spleen acts as a filter for your blood The spleen is like a security guard for the body, letting healthy blood cells pass through it and stopping unhealthy ones in their tracks.
The spleen fights certain types of bacteria Your spleen is also wonderful for picking out any unwelcome bugs from your blood stream. The blood vessels in the spleen are able to expand and contract, depending on your body's needs The spleen stores blood and when a person loses a lot of blood, for example in a bad car accident, the spleen can respond by releasing blood back into your blood system.
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