Question 1

what does it feel like when you have a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

Abdominal Pain: The spleen is a very vascular organ.  Significant trauma may cause internal bleeding within the abdominal cavity. Blood is an irritant to the lining of the abdomen, causing  pain wherever the blood may be. While the spleen resides behind the rib cage in the left upper abdomen, the pain can occur wherever the blood goes.  If severe, the anemia can cause a rapid heart rate and/or lightheadedness.

Question 2

where would do you feel pain if you have a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

(LeftUpper)Abdomen: Splenic trauma may cause internal bleeding within the abdominal cavity. Blood is an irritant to the lining of the abdomen, causing  pain wherever the blood may be. While the spleen resides behind the rib cage in the left upper abdomen, the pain can occur wherever the blood goes. It is not uncommon to have broken ribs associated w/the same trauma causing splenic injury; this pain would be@rib cage.

Question 3

how long would it take to realize that you have a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Most of the time ruptured spleen is a result of significant trauma and the abdominal pain would be very noticeable, and the person is evaluated and diagnosed quickly in an emergency room setting. But, I have also seen torn spleen that ruptures days after a neglected injury in someone who did not seek medical evaluation immediately after a significant traumatic injury.

Question 4

why would respiratory rate rise if you have a ruptured spleen and are losing blood?

Accepted Answer

Compensatory: Ruptured spleen causes significant loss of blood and that causes anemia, that is fall in hemoglobin which carries oxygen to all tissues of the body.As oxygen level drops, lungs try to compensate the lack oxygen by breathing faster
that is the reason why respiration rate rises  with ruptured spleen.

Question 5

where should i seek help if i have a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

ER: Any trauma involving fractures of  left lower ribs with abdominal pain/swelling and dizziness = splenic  injury till proven otherwise.  Not a condition to wait till you are certain.

Question 6

if it's a possibility that i may have a ruptured spleen, what should i do?

Accepted Answer

Ultrasound or CTscan: There is no way to know yourself or by simple xray if your spleen is ruptured.  Need an imaging study like an ultrasound or ct scan to tell for sure.  Limited damage to the spleen can often be managed without an operation but you should be watched carefully as late severe rupture can happen, with sudden internal bleeding.

Question 7

is it possible to have a ruptured spleen so mild that you live 3-4 years without knowing it?

Accepted Answer

Yes: ruptured spleen comes in various grades from mild to severe. Most mild to moderate stages are managed with bed rest and observation. A mild grade one could go unnoticed and therefore untreated.

Question 8

do people not wearing seatbelts who are in car wreck have a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: Not wearing seat-belts in a car accident can result in many severe injuries. The worst injury would be a brain injury. Other injuries would be rib fractures, heart injury, torn aorta or major vein, lung contusion, liver fracture, kidney fracture, intestinal rupture, spleen fracture, etc, etc, etc.

Question 9

i had mono and the doctors said i have a ruptured spleen. what is the best way to treat it?

Accepted Answer

Non operative/ surgi: Up to 90% of ruptured spleen can be manger nonoperatively.  In certain situation were persistent bleeding or risk of future recurrent bleeding, a surgical splenectomy will be advised/ inevitable.

Question 10

how is a ruptured spleen treated?

Accepted Answer

Depends on severity: The spleen is a very vascular organ and, though well protected by the rib cage, is susceptible to blunt trauma.  Minor injuries may usually be managed by "watchful waiting", but rupture can lead to life-threatening bleeding. In the past, this meant splenectomy. Nowadays, we can often stop the bleeding nonsurgically by internally closing off the bleeding vessels via interventional radiology.

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Doctor answers about:

How do you know if you have a ruptured spleen

A member asked:

What does it feel like when you have a ruptured spleen?

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Where would do you feel pain if you have a ruptured spleen?

A member asked:

How long would it take to realize that you have a ruptured spleen?

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Why would respiratory rate rise if you have a ruptured spleen and are losing blood?

A member asked:

Where should i seek help if i have a ruptured spleen?

A member asked:

If it's a possibility that i may have a ruptured spleen, what should i do?

A member asked:

Is it possible to have a ruptured spleen so mild that you live 3-4 years without knowing it?

A member asked:

Do people not wearing seatbelts who are in car wreck have a ruptured spleen?

A member asked:

I had mono and the doctors said i have a ruptured spleen. what is the best way to treat it?

A member asked:

How is a ruptured spleen treated?

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