How can i rupture my spleen

The diagnosis of splenic rupture is a clinical one, confirmed by either CT scan or laparotomy in haemodynamically unstable patients. Several grading systems based on CT or ultrasound findings have been established for splenic rupture and each has been shown to be useful for guiding management decisions. There are numerous case reports of spontaneous splenic rupture but a comprehensive assessment of incidence rates, causes, specific symptoms, management options and prognosis has not been performed [ 3 ].

A 56 year old male patient presented to the emergency department with sudden-onset, severe, left-sided abdominal pain that had woken him from sleep.

The pain was associated with nausea but no vomiting. He denied any history of trauma, change in bowel habit or urinary symptoms. He reported 2 episodes of a similar, but much less severe, pain in the preceding week. There was no significant past medical history and he was not on any regular medications. Chest examination was unremarkable. Abdominal examination showed left-sided tenderness. PR examination was unremarkable. Following initial successful fluid resuscitation, he underwent a CT scan which showed free fluid in the abdomen and a perisplenic haematoma with disruption of the splenic parenchyma Figure 1.

Initial bloods were unremarkable but repeat bloods after 6 hours showed Hb 7. Coronal section of the Abdominal CT scan shows free fluid in the abdomen and a splenic haematoma.

The splenic injury was initially managed conservatively, including transfusion of 3 units of red blood cells. On re-assessment the abdomen remained tender on the left. As the patient remained haemodynamically unstable, the decision was made to proceed to a splenectomy. At laparotomy the patient had approximately 2 litres of haemolysed blood in the abdominal cavity and a large perisplenic haematoma with grade IV splenic injury i. He was transfused an additional 2 units intra-operatively.

Histopathology showed normal splenic tissue and no other underlying pathology. Post-operatively, the patient received pneumococcal, meningococcal and haemophilus vaccinations and was discharged on life-long penicillin prophylaxis. Atraumatic splenic rupture was first documented in the 19 th century. Checking for blood in your abdominal cavity. Your doctor might either use an ultrasound or draw a sample of fluid from your abdomen with a needle.

If the sample reveals blood in your abdomen, you might be referred for emergency treatment. Imaging tests of your abdomen.

If your diagnosis isn't clear, your doctor might recommend an abdominal CT scan, possibly with contrast dye, or another imaging test to look for other possible causes of your symptoms.

Treatment Treatment for a ruptured spleen will depend on the severity of your condition. Hospitalization while the spleen heals Many small or moderate-sized injuries to the spleen can heal without surgery. Surgery to repair or remove the spleen Surgery for a ruptured spleen can include: Repairing the spleen.

Your surgeon might be able to use stitches or other techniques to repair the rupture. Removing part of the spleen. It might be possible to remove only part of your spleen, depending on the rupture. Partial splenectomy reduces the risk of infection that results from removing the entire spleen.

All rights reserved. Terms of Use. In people who are hemodynamically stable, a CT scan is typically used to help determine the grade of injury. In the emergency trauma setting, an ultrasound scan is performed while other monitoring and management continue uninterrupted.

This scan is done according to the focused assessment with sonography for trauma FAST protocol, which forms part of the advanced trauma life support ATLS protocol developed by the American College of Surgeons. A FAST ultrasound enables clinicians to scan for fluid in four areas of the abdomen, including the space around the spleen. The doctor draws fluid from the abdominal cavity. Nowadays, this is rarely performed. A ruptured spleen is often identified by a CT scan.

In some cases, such as where a patient has kidney stones or is allergic to the contrast substance used in a CT scan, a stable individual with a suspected ruptured spleen may undergo an MRI scan. This can also show problems with the soft tissues of the body. Splenic injury is classified by severity, taking into account the level of laceration, injury to the veins and arteries, and clotting.

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading system for spleen injury is as follows:. The grading of a ruptured spleen helps doctors determine whether surgical or non-operative management is indicated for treatment. Gaucher's disease is a inherited disease that results in a build up of lipids. Symptoms and outlook vary widely. It normally affects the spleen first. An aneurysm is a weakening and bulging of an artery wall. Many have no symptoms and are not dangerous.

However, at their most severe, aneurysms can…. Whiplash is a series of neck injuries that occur as a result of the sudden distortion of the neck, often due to being struck from behind in an…. In this article, we discuss the spleen. We will explain what the spleen does, the types of cells involved, and what happens when it goes wrong.

What are the different types of bleeding, and how can a person treat them? Read on to learn more. Everything you need to know about ruptured spleen.

Medically reviewed by Andrew Gonzalez, M. Symptoms Treatment Recovery Complications Causes Diagnosis Stages The spleen is an organ located in the left-upper quarter of the abdomen, beneath the ribs. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Abdominal Injuries. Test your knowledge. Motion sickness includes symptoms, particularly nausea, that affect people while they ride in a moving object.

The object can be a transport vehicle such as a car, boat, train, or airplane, or an amusement park ride. A contributing factor is over-stimulation of a part of the body involved in balance control. Which of the following is that body part? More Content.

Click here for the Professional Version. An injured spleen is often painful. Ultrasound or computed tomography scans. Blood transfusions. Was This Page Helpful? Yes No.