Just as it detects faulty red blood cells, your spleen can pick out any unwelcome micro-organisms like bacteria or viruses in your blood. When one of these invaders is detected in your bloodstream, your spleen, along with your lymph nodes, jumps to action and creates an army of defender cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies, special proteins that weaken or kill bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that cause infection.
Antibodies and white blood cells also stop infections from spreading through the body by trapping germs and destroying them. As you've seen, your spleen is a very useful organ, but it is not vital. Sometimes, a person's spleen does have to be surgically removed.
This may be because the spleen becomes injured, or it may be taken out in the course of transplanting other organs. Other parts of your body, like your lymph nodes and your liver , are able to step in and take over many of your spleen's functions. Because the spleen is so important to your immune system, people without spleens are more vulnerable to infections. This is why your doctor may tell you to take extra precautions, such as getting vaccinations, once your spleen has been removed.
You will also be prescribed oral antibiotics to take daily; this is another way to prevent infection. Still, it's not uncommon to be without a spleen, and many people are able to enjoy full lives without one. Learn more about the liver and its functions.
Jan Blice Phone: Email: joanne. Renee Brown-Bakewell Phone: Email: renee. Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:.
Pittsburgh, PA In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region. For general information and inquiries , please call To make an appointment , please call from 7 a. Monday through Friday. Share a comment, compliment or concern. Ms Hartwig said before joining the spleen registry, she was unaware of how much important information she was missing out on — which meant she was not actually up to date with her required immunisations, did not possess a medical alert card or bracelet and did not have access to emergency antibiotics.
The Spleen-ie App is also so helpful to refer to, knowing that my personal immunisation records can be easily found. Skip links and keyboard navigation Skip to content Skip to site navigation Skip to footer Use tab and cursor keys to move around the page more information.
Site header. Contact us Help. You are here: Home News and events 4 cool facts about your spleen. The spleen acts as a filter for your blood The spleen is like a security guard for the body, letting healthy blood cells pass through it and stopping unhealthy ones in their tracks. The spleen fights certain types of bacteria Your spleen is also wonderful for picking out any unwelcome bugs from your blood stream.
The blood vessels in the spleen are able to expand and contract, depending on your body's needs The spleen stores blood and when a person loses a lot of blood, for example in a bad car accident, the spleen can respond by releasing blood back into your blood system. Registered patients will receive: medical information on managing asplenia or hyposplenism. Important resources Registration for the Spleen Australia registry Patient information sheet for people who lack a functioning spleen.
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. It is an important part of your immune system but you can survive without it. This is because the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions. If the spleen doesn't work properly, it may start to remove healthy blood cells. This can lead to:. Spleen pain is usually felt as a pain behind your left ribs.
It may be tender when you touch the area. This can be a sign of a damaged, ruptured or enlarged spleen. 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. Sometimes, if you lie down and raise your legs, the pain can be felt at the tip of your left shoulder.
A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency, as it can cause life-threatening bleeding. The spleen can become swollen after an infection or injury. It can also become enlarged as a result of a disease such as cirrhosis , leukaemia or rheumatoid arthritis.
Doctors can often tell if you have an enlarged spleen by feeling your abdomen. The spleen is not usually removed if it's just enlarged. Instead, you'll receive treatment for any underlying condition and your spleen will be monitored. Antibiotics may be prescribed if there's an infection. You'll need to avoid contact sports for a while, as you'll be at greater risk of rupturing the spleen while it is enlarged. Surgery is only necessary if the enlarged spleen is causing serious complications or if the cause can't be found.
An operation to remove the spleen, known as a splenectomy, may be needed if the spleen is damaged, diseased or enlarged. It may sometimes be more appropriate to have just part of your spleen removed — a partial splenectomy. A laparoscope is long, thin, flexible instrument with its own light source. It is attached to a camera and will relay high definition, magnified pictures back to a TV screen to guide the surgeon's instruments.
Laparoscopic splenectomy allows a surgeon to access the inside of your abdomen without having to make large incisions cuts in your skin.
However, you will still need a general anaesthetic. The incisions will then be stitched up or sometimes glued together. You may be able to go home the same day, or may need to stay in hospital overnight. If you go home the same day, someone will need to stay with you for the first 24 hours. Open surgery, where one large incision is made, may be needed if the spleen is too large or too damaged to be removed via keyhole surgery.
Often, in emergencies, this will be the preferred method to rapidly control bleeding. It's normal to feel sore and be bruised after a splenectomy, but you'll be given pain relief medication. Like any operation, a splenectomy carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection. 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.
Another risk is the surgical wound becoming infected. If you spot any signs of infection, contact your GP or hospital immediately, as you may need antibiotics.
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