How long can you live with a ruptured spleen

What is a Ruptured Spleen? Updated Nov 22,

The spleen is located just under your rib cage on your left side. A ruptured spleen may release a large amount of blood into the stomach cavity. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency that occurs as a result of a break in your spleen's surface. Your spleen, situated just under your rib cage on your left side, helps your body fight infection and filter old blood cells from your bloodstream. A forceful blow to your stomach — during a sporting accident, a fistfight or a car crash, for example — is the usual cause of a ruptured spleen. If you have an enlarged spleen, a less forceful trauma might cause rupture. Without emergency treatment, the internal bleeding caused by a ruptured spleen can be life-threatening.

How long can you live with a ruptured spleen

A ruptured spleen is a life threatening medical emergency. It requires immediate medical attention. While surgery is not always necessary, timely treatment is critical. The spleen is a small organ in the upper left part of your abdomen. It plays an important role in fighting infection, supporting immunity, and cleaning the bloodstream of bacteria and old blood cells. Occasionally, the spleen can be injured. It can even rupture or tear. In the United States, about 40, people experience a spleen injury each year. A ruptured spleen is usually the result of one of two things:. The majority of ruptured spleens are caused by trauma. The trauma may be due to an automobile accident, a fall, a sports injury, or blows from a physical fight. Even a minor injury can cause small tears or bruising to the spleen. An enlarged spleen is often due to an existing disease or condition. A ruptured spleen is rare, but a spontaneous spleen rupture is even rarer. A spontaneous rupture occurs without any physical trauma or injury.

Healthcare professionals will mark your health records to show that you do not have a working spleen. Doctors can often tell if you have an enlarged spleen by feeling your abdomen.

Treatment for a ruptured spleen will depend on the seriousness of your condition. Severe injuries usually require immediate surgery. Many small or moderate-sized injuries to the spleen can heal without surgery. You're likely to stay in the hospital while your health care team observe your condition and provide nonsurgical care, such as blood transfusions, if necessary. You might have periodic follow-up CT scans to check whether your spleen has healed or to determine whether you need surgery. Spleen surgery is generally safe, but any surgery has risks, such as bleeding, blood clots, infection and pneumonia.

The spleen is an immune system organ in the upper left portion of your abdomen. Its location means it is prone to injury after blunt force trauma, such as after a car accident. A severe spleen injury can be life threatening because you may experience significant blood loss. Symptoms of a ruptured spleen depend on how damaged the spleen is. They may include:. Children tend to have more pliable ribs. But they may still have an underlying spleen injury. Most children with a spleen injury will have pain in the upper left side of their abdomen.

How long can you live with a ruptured spleen

The spleen is a small organ usually about the size of your fist. But a number of conditions, including liver disease and some cancers, can cause your spleen to become enlarged. Your spleen is an organ that sits just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen.

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Others may require surgery to remove the damaged spleen. If you spot any signs of infection such as a high temperature or redness and swelling around the wound, contact your GP or hospital immediately. Rupture of Gallbladder. It requires immediate medical attention. Your doctor or nurse will advise when you can go back to your usual activities, such as driving. In emergency situations, your health care team might either use an ultrasound or draw a sample of fluid from your stomach with a needle. Doctors may provide non-surgical treatments like blood transfusions for splenic injuries that are not life-threatening. With proper treatment and follow-up care, recovery from a ruptured spleen is typically excellent. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. The majority of ruptured spleens are caused by trauma. Gastroenterology Research and Practice. Show references AskMayoExpert. What happens if your spleen ruptures? Ruptured spleen The spleen is located just under your rib cage on your left side.

Surgical removal of the spleen is a splenectomy. Partial splenectomy is less common than removal of the whole spleen. These procedures may be done to treat spleen enlargement, anemia, cancer, ruptured spleen, and more.

Get the Mayo Clinic app. You could go from being stable to gravely ill in a matter of 24 to 48 hours if a ruptured spleen is not properly treated. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency, as it can cause life-threatening bleeding. Tell medical staff about your spleen problems Healthcare professionals will mark your health records to show that you do not have a working spleen. Gastroenterology Research and Practice. Recovering from a ruptured spleen is not fast. What Are the Stages of Shingles? Share on Pinterest Illustration by Antonio Jimenez. More Information Blood transfusion Splenectomy. A ruptured spleen is usually the result of one of two things:. In emergency situations, your health care team might either use an ultrasound or draw a sample of fluid from your stomach with a needle. Blood tests will evaluate factors such as platelet count and how well your blood clots.