The spleen is an organ about the size of a clenched fist found on the left-hand side of your upper tummy (abdomen). A component of the immune system, the spleen is connected to the lymphatic system. It is this overlap in duties makes it possible for the spleen to be removed without causing lasting harm to the individual. Why Would Someone Need Surgery to Remove Their Spleen? The spleen has a high amount of blood flow, which can lead to a tremendous amount of bleeding when there is a serious injury and the bleeding can quickly become life-threatening. The function of spleen is to make new red blood cells and destroy old cells. The spleen is a fist-sized organ found in the upper left side of your abdomen, next to your stomach and behind your left ribs. This is because the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions. The spleen is not usually removed if it's just enlarged. Part of the lymphatic system, it performs a number of important functions in the body that protect us from the effects of outside “invaders,” stress and certain deficiencies. The organ allows healthy blood cells to pass through it, and it detains and recycles old or malformed cells. This organ is … Like any operation, a splenectomy carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection. If your spleen needs to be removed, other organs such as the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions. It is possible to have the spleen removed and live a healthy life. These diseases cause the spleen to become very active. The size of the spleen … While the spleen is useful and does perform vital tasks, other organs in the body also work to filter the blood and fight infection, and blood cells are mainly produced in the bones. People without a working spleen have an increased risk of developing a severe form of malaria. It is the largest organ in our lymphatic system. For many, aside from being advised to have more vaccines than other individuals might, the end of the recovery from surgery is the last time they are concerned about their spleen. In a trauma situation, particularly a severe car crash where an individual is wearing a seat belt, the force of impact can actually cause the spleen to rupture and begin to hemorrhage blood. Making several incisions in your abdomen (tummy area). Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. That said, an individual without a spleen will always have a greater risk of contracting pneumonia and reduced effectiveness of vaccines. At this point, we do not know for sure how lacking a spleen might affect a person’s ability to fight COVID-19. It is possible to have the spleen removed and live a healthy life. What Causes Your Platelet Count to Be Low? the accumulation of Phlegm (although on its own a weak Spleen does not produce Phlegm). It's often discovered during a routine physical exam. The spleen holds reserve blood in case of significant bleeding, much like a blood-filled balloon, and acts as a reserve source of extra blood. The risk is also increased if you have a medical condition such as sickle cell anaemia, coeliac disease or a condition that affects your immune system, such as HIV. . It fights any invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells). If you can't, speak to your GP or local pharmacist about anti-malaria medicine before you travel. Often, in emergencies, this will be the preferred method to rapidly control bleeding. Spleen Houses the Intellect. This means you will still be able to cope with most infections. When blood flows into your spleen, your spleen performs "quality control"; your red blood cells must pass through a maze of narrow passages. When it does, it processes and stores more blood, which frequently causes it to enlarge. The spleen can become damaged or may rupture (burst) after a forceful blow to the abdomen, car accident, sporting accident or fracture to the ribs. It's normal to feel sore and be bruised after a splenectomy, but you'll be given pain relief medication. Surgery: How to Prepare for a Splenectomy, https://medlineplus.gov/spleendiseases.html#summary​. A meningitis vaccine should also be considered along with annual flu shots. It plays an important role- in the body’s defense against infection. The spleen controls the level of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets (small cells that form blood clots) However, always remember to tell any medical professionals that you see, including your dentist. The spleen is one of the least understood organs of the human body. an increased risk of infection, from a reduced number of white blood cells, bleeding or bruising, from a reduced number of platelets, pain behind your left ribs and tenderness when you touch this area, dizziness and a rapid heart rate (a sign of low blood pressure caused by blood loss), feeling full very quickly after eating (an enlarged spleen can press on the stomach), feeling discomfort or pain behind your left ribs. Outlined is a very large, but smooth spleen in a cat. The spleen has some important functions: it fights invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells) it controls the level of blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets) it filters the blood and removes any old or damaged red blood cells The spleen is an oval-shaped organ that sits under the rib cage on the left-hand side of the body. Your spleen also helps control the amount of blood in your body, and destroys old and damaged cells. acts as a blood filter; it controls the amount of red blood cells and blood storage in the body, and helps to fight infection,\" said Jordan Knowlton, an advanced registered nurse practitioner at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital. For example: If you need help or emergency treatment, your medical ID will alert the staff to your condition. However, sometimes chronic enlargement develops, a … Your doctor will run through these risks with you. Otherwise, look out for: Doctors can often tell if you have an enlarged spleen by feeling your abdomen. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. A laparoscope is long, thin, flexible instrument with its own light source. You should be given breathing and leg movement exercises to do at home, to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot or a chest infection. The risks of contracting an infection are highest in the first two years following surgery. Your doctor generally can't feel a normal-sized spleen in adults but can feel an enlarged spleen. Antibiotics are particularly important: Watch out for signs of infection, such as: Your GP can prescribe a course of antibiotics for you to use if you get an infection. The incisions will then be stitched up or sometimes glued together. Your doctor or nurse will advise when you can go back to your usual activities, such as driving. If you go trekking or camping regularly, you may be at risk of babesiosis, which is a rare disease transmitted by ticks. As the spleen is not the only organ responsible for any of these functions, the spleen is not a necessary organ. It recognizes and removes old, malformed, or damaged red blood cells. The spleen is part of the immune system and plays an important role in fighting infections. If your infection becomes serious, you will be admitted to hospital. As the spleen is not the only organ responsible for any of these functions, the spleen is not a necessary organ. By removing old or damaged red blood cells and adding white blood cells to your bloodstream to respond to infections, the spleen helps keep your immune system functioning. COVID-19: Does not having a spleen affect ability to fight this illness? Don’t include personal information e.g. The most common reasons to do a splenectomy are to treat a ruptured spleen, an enlarged spleen or other disorders of the spleen and blood disorders. The spleen is part of your lymphatic system, which fights infection and keeps your body fluids in balance. The spleen can also become enlarged, stretching over time, until it becomes unable to function. Your spleen is an organ located just below your left rib cage. Diseases that may lead to an enlarged spleen include rheumatoid arthritis, cirrhosis, and leukemia. While the spleen is useful and does perform vital tasks, other organs in the body also work to filter the blood and fight infection, and blood cells are mainly produced in the bones. Passing thin instruments into your abdomen through the other incisions, to remove your spleen. It is attached to a camera and will relay high definition, magnified pictures back to a TV screen to guide the surgeon's instruments. Bites from animals and ticks (small blood-sucking parasites) can cause infections. This means how we process information and think things through – working with its partner, the Stomach. You may be able to go home the same day, or may need to stay in hospital overnight. This risk will be present for the rest of your life. A blood test, CT scan or MRI scan would confirm the diagnosis. It helps the immune system by storing white blood cells and helping in the creation of antibodies. If you go home the same day, someone will need to stay with you for the first 24 hours. This is normal and usually disappears when the disease goes away. If you have an enlarged spleen, a less forceful trau… The spleen has a few important functions: It fights any invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells). However, too many sweets, especially … Surgery is only necessary if the enlarged spleen is causing serious complications or if the cause can't be found. Spleen Diseases. Young children have a higher risk of serious infection than adults, but the risk is still small. Probably the single most important thing the spleen does i… The x-ray of a cat’s abdomen shows an enlarged spleen due to mast cell tumor, the most common spleen tumor in the cat. ( although on its own light source CT scan or MRI scan Would confirm diagnosis... Form.Email } }, for signing up laparoscopic splenectomy allows a surgeon to access the inside of your spleen usually. 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