Question 1

what can cause a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

Trauma: An accident such as a serious fall, car accident, knife or gun shot injury, or being struck very hard in the abdomen can cause ruptured spleen. Rare situations of minor injury in a person with an already enlarged or diseased spleen could result in splenic damage too.

Question 2

can a ruptured spleen cause sudden death?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The spleen is a organ that filters and recycles old red blood cells and may trap some white blood cells. Because it is full of blood cells, if it ruptures, it can result in massive internal bleeding and is an emergent situation to be seen in er and may need surgery to stop bleeding or repair or remove spleen.

Question 3

can stretching cause a ruptured spleen? or is it just a strained muscle?

Accepted Answer

Enlarged Spleen: If the spleen is enlarged by a disease process it become more susceptible to injury.  
Otherwise, a normal spleen shouldn't have problems with streaching.

Question 4

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.

Question 5

how dangerous  is a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

Potentially...Very: 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.

Question 6

can a ruptured spleen hurt my health?

Accepted Answer

Sure: A ruptured spleen can be fatal depending on the extent of the injury. Imho that is the worst thing it can do to you. However even removing the spleen (and saving your life) can lead to overwhelming infections. Most of us try nonoperative therapy first followed by surgery if this fails. Most of the time a repair can be done, but sometimes it must be removed.

Question 7

how painful is a ruptured spleen feel?

Accepted Answer

Painful: The spleen lies just under the diaphragm on the left side so when it ruptures the blood gets under the diaphragm causing significant pain with each  breath and sometimes into the left shoulder blade area additionaly blood will run down left side causing pain along left side even into pelvis. It is usually very painful.

Question 8

how long it takes to heal a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

Perhaps 6-12 months: Most ruptured spleens are due to trauma, in which case most of the time they are surgically removed.   You can live without a spleen, though it does have some impact of immune function. Iron storage (also done in bone marrow and liver), and old red blood cell destruction (life of an RBC is 100 days).  Must avoid any contact sports or further trauma to that area (left upper quadrant of abdomen).

Question 9

how long can you live with a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

Internal bleeding: A ruptured spleen can have a variable degree of injury. The spleen damage may be minor and heal on its own, or may be a major injury with significant life threatening internal bleeding that needs emergency surgery to remove the spleen.

Question 10

what are symptoms of having a ruptured spleen?

Accepted Answer

Pain, bleeding: Most often would be left sided pain. But bleeding can be serious and cause fainting, falling, low blood pressure, fast heart rate, difficulty taking deep breath. It needs to be evaluated emergently.

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What causes a ruptured spleen

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How dangerous is a ruptured spleen?

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