Ruptured spleen
The spleen is the largest organ of the important lymphatic system and is oval in shape. It is located on the left side of the body, under the ribs. In a healthy state, the spleen is a storehouse of red blood cells, it participates in the processes of the immune system and purifies the blood.
The spleen also kills pathogenic (enemy) microflora in the blood, performs a hematopoietic function and is able to accumulate platelet reserves. In an unhealthy state, the spleen begins to increase in volume. The capsule that covers the spleen stretches and becomes very thin, which can rupture the organ.
The most common cause of a ruptured spleen is trauma. Serious acute viral and bacterial infections can also provoke a rupture. Excessive physical activity during inflammatory processes of the organ and a sharp increase in blood volume during pregnancy also often cause rupture of the spleen.
With any inflammatory process of the body, a significant load on the organ also increases. The most common diseases causing this dangerous condition are liver cirrhosis, various hepatitis, dangerous tuberculosis and mononucleosis, as well as all kinds of malignant tumors. It is also worth mentioning that two percent of those giving birth under some circumstances will have a dangerous rupture of the spleen.
The first symptom of this condition is severe pain on the left side of the peritoneum, which eventually spreads to the entire abdomen. The pain in most cases intensifies with a deep breath and even a slight change in body position. Then, nausea and vomiting are added to the main symptom, the patient's skin becomes rather pale, blood pressure drops and the pulse becomes noticeably faster. These signs may indicate a dangerous internal hemorrhage. On examination, your doctor can usually detect mild bloating.
Unfortunately, in such situations, it was possible to save the spleen, if there is a rupture, in only 1% of all known cases. It is completely pointless to suture large gaps in this condition. The high internal blood pressure will cause the stitches to open instantly and bleeding may recur. Therefore, most often, it is necessary to completely remove this important organ of the human body.
To prevent rupture of the spleen, you should not break bed rest during the period of even the most minor colds, as well as during exacerbation of chronic ailments. Also, if you decide to go in for sports, the load should be increased gradually, and do not lift too heavy weights without the supervision of an experienced instructor.
Be careful on the roads and be sure to follow safety rules. During pregnancy, expectant mothers should wear a special bandage.
Spleen hematoma
Another of the most common injuries of the spleen is a hematoma of this internal organ. It occurs with open and closed damage. Due to profuse internal bleeding, in some cases a hematoma can be diagnosed. With a hematoma, the patient feels terrible discomfort in the abdominal cavity due to the irritation of the nerve endings. To find out the condition and size of the internal hematoma of the spleen, the necessary palpation is performed and a number of necessary examinations are prescribed.
If the hematoma is large, an urgent operation will be required to avoid infection. In the case of a small hematoma, specialists apply certain sutures to the damaged area of the organ, and also ligate the splenic artery. Surgeons often use fibrinogen for this procedure, which is a new generation of special medical glue.
Closed hematoma of the spleen most often occurs due to all kinds of falls and injuries of the abdominal cavity. Also, spontaneous organ damage often occurs, which can be caused by such serious diseases as infectious mononucleosis or malaria. There is another important reason for the formation of a hematoma, this is unforeseen damage to the spleen during surgery.
Due to the rupture of this organ, a subcapsular hematoma is formed. For the first few days, it does not affect the integrity of the spleen capsule, but in the future it can burst, which can cause dangerous internal bleeding. Such damage can be diagnosed using modern computed tomography and accurate ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity.
With the formation of a subcapsular hematoma, surgical and emergency surgical intervention is necessary. In the case when a hematoma formed after a ruptured spleen or as a result of an injury during an operation, a complex splenectomy and the necessary organ-preserving interventions are performed.
In the case when the spleen is completely removed, one should try to avoid significant hypothermia of the body, since the absence of such an important organ several times reduces human immunity. Modern doctors prescribe the necessary drugs to strengthen the body's defenses. It is also recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits, and lead a healthy lifestyle. It is necessary to regularly analyze the main blood parameters.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
