Index
It is a small purple organ, about the size of a fist, found on the left side of the abdomen.
It is usually up to 4 inches long and weighs about 0.44 pounds.
It belongs to the lymphatic system, which works as a protection against infection. It also maintains the balance of body fluids . Repairing old and damaged cells is also part of the spleen’s functions.
Spleen location
The spleen is located in the left hypochondriacal region of the abdomen. It is specifically located between the upper left portion of the stomach and the diaphragm. It is also within the lower portion of the ribs; therefore, this cannot be felt unless it is enlarged.
Spleen pain symptoms
Spleen pain is pain that is felt on the left side of the abdomen. The pain is usually worse during breathing and after eating large or heavy meals. However, this is difficult to diagnose, as pain in the abdomen can be related to disorders in other nearby organs, such as the stomach.
Pain location
In addition to the left side of the abdomen, spleen pain can radiate to other parts of the body, such as the shoulders, left side of the chest, back, and belly button. The pain rarely reaches the right side of the abdomen.
Causes
Infection
The most common cause of spleen pain is an infection that can be bacterial, viral, or parasitic. Causes moderate to severe pain in the spleen. Examples of infections that cause pain and enlargement of the spleen include the following:
- Mononucleosis: the abnormal elevation of the levels of mononuclear monocytes in the blood caused by a viral infection, which causes fever and swollen lymph nodes.
- Toxoplasmosis: Parasitic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which is transmitted by cats.
- Syphilis – Bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum, which is usually transferred during sexual intercourse.
Splenomegaly
It refers to the enlargement of the spleen. This is a rare cause of spleen pain because the spleen is covered with an elastic capsule that allows the spleen to enlarge several times from its normal size without bursting or rupturing.
Pain caused by splenomegaly is only mild to moderate pain. An enlarged spleen can be caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection, or by the following conditions:
- Endocarditis.
- Leukemia.
- Cirrhosis.
- Hodgkin’s disease.
- Niemann-Pick disease.
- Portal hypertension.
- Amylose.
- Gaucher disease.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Felty syndrome.
- Rheumatoid arthritis .
- Billiard atresia.
- Sclerosing cholangitis.
Splenic infarction
Splenic infarction refers to the death of a tissue in a certain portion of the spleen. It is caused by a blockage in the splenic artery.
Therefore, blood flow is blocked, leading to ischemia or tissue damage due to lack of oxygen. An embolus is one of the most common examples of blocked blood flow in the spleen.
It is usually asymptomatic in mild cases.
In moderate to severe cases, symptoms include the following:
- A cold.
- Fever.
- Nausea.
- He retched.
- Discomfort.
- Chest pain.
- Pain in the left upper quadrant.
- Pain in the left shoulder.
- Rupture of the spleen.
Splenic rupture is an emergency condition that involves destruction of the spleen capsule . When the spleen opens, blood flows into the abdominal cavity, causing immense internal bleeding.
This also causes severe abdominal pain. A ruptured spleen can be caused by trauma or a blow to the abdomen. The most common causes are the following:
- Vehicle accidents.
- Bicycle accidents.
- Injuries while playing sports such as hockey and soccer.
- Violence or torture.
It can also be caused by an underlying disease, such as malaria, mononucleosis, lymphoma, and hemolytic anemia.
Under these conditions, the spleen capsule thins, making it more prone to damage during trauma and injury.
It is also claimed that colonoscopy, a diagnostic procedure used to look at the large intestine, also increases the risk of a ruptured spleen.
Symptoms of a ruptured spleen include the following:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Blurry vision.
- Dizziness.
- Confusion.
- Unconsciousness.
- Nausea.
- Pallor.
- Anxiety and restlessness.
A ruptured spleen is diagnosed through a physical exam. The abdominal area is hard and swollen due to the blood filling the area.
A fast heart rate and low blood pressure can also be observed due to the large amount of blood lost.
Low blood pressure indicates that the patient needs immediate medical attention. Imaging tests are also done. The most common is computed tomography (CT).
However, this cannot be used in patients suffering from severe spleen rupture and in patients allergic to contrast media.
Therefore, other imaging tests are performed, such as the following:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Diagnostic peritoneal lavage.
- Focused abdominal sonographic technique.
Spleen pain treatment
The most important treatment for spleen pain is splenectomy, especially when the pain is caused by a splenic infarction or splenic rupture.
Splenectomy refers to the removal of the entire spleen. If only a portion of the spleen is removed, it is called a partial splenectomy. However, unlike the liver, the part of the spleen that is removed cannot regenerate.
Splenectomy is performed with two methods: laparotomy or open surgery and laparoscopy. In laparotomy, the spleen is removed through a single incision in the abdomen.
The incision is made on the left side of the abdomen, just below the rib area. Before the spleen is removed, it is first disconnected from the blood supply and pancreas. After it is removed, the incision is closed with stitches and stitches.
Laparoscopy, on the other hand, is a less invasive procedure that involves three or four small holes in the abdomen. Through these holes, the laparoscope and other medical instruments are inserted.
The entire procedure is observed through a monitor connected to the laparoscope. However, this procedure cannot be used on very large and swollen spleens.
It also cannot be used in obese patients, or in patients who have scars in the spleen tissue caused by a previous operation.
When the spleen is removed, the body becomes more prone to infection. Therefore, vaccinations become necessary.
The vaccines that are generally given include the meningococcal vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine, and the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine.
Antibiotics are also prescribed to prevent infection. It is also advised that patients should not go to areas infected with malaria.
