How can your spleen burst

When surgery is necessary, usually the entire spleen is removed splenectomy , but sometimes surgeons are able to repair a small tear. The splenic artery brings blood to the spleen from Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community.

Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Abdominal Injuries. Test your knowledge. Which type of snake accounts for the great majority of poisonous snakebites in the United States each year? More Content. An injured spleen is often painful. Ultrasound or computed tomography scans. Blood transfusions. Was This Page Helpful? Hoffman R, et al. Infectious mononucleosis and other Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases.

In: Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. Elsevier; Accessed April 12, Liu J, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of atraumatic splenic rupture: Experience of 8 cases. Gastroenterology Research and Practice.

Doherty GM, ed. McGraw-Hill; Diercks DB, et al. Initial evaluation and management of blunt abdominal trauma in adults. Related Ruptured spleen. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.

Spleen surgery is generally safe, but any surgery has risks, such as bleeding, blood clots, infection and pneumonia. Unsupported Browser! This website will offer limited functionality in this browser. We only support the recent versions of major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Ruptured spleen. Overview A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency that occurs as a result of a break in your spleen's surface. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of a ruptured spleen include: Pain in the upper left abdomen Tenderness when you touch the upper left abdomen Left shoulder pain Confusion, lightheadedness or dizziness When to see a doctor A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency.

Causes A spleen can rupture due to: Injury to the left side of the body. A ruptured spleen is typically caused by a blow to the left upper abdomen or the left lower chest, such as might happen during sporting mishaps, fistfights and car crashes.

An injured spleen can rupture soon after the abdominal trauma or, in some cases, days or weeks after the injury. An enlarged spleen. Your spleen can become enlarged when blood cells accumulate in the spleen. An enlarged spleen can be caused by various underlying problems, such as mononucleosis and other infections, liver disease, and blood cancers. Complications A ruptured spleen can cause life-threatening bleeding into your abdominal cavity. Prevention If you've been diagnosed with an enlarged spleen, ask your doctor whether you need to avoid activities for several weeks that could cause it to rupture.

Diagnosis Tests and procedures used to diagnose a ruptured spleen include: Physical exam. Your doctor will press on your abdomen to determine the size of your spleen and whether it's tender. Blood tests.