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.
Answered 12/9/2013
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