Strategies For Treating And Preventing A Ruptured Spleen

Full Or Partial Splenectomy

A full or partial splenectomy may be recommended for patients who have a ruptured spleen. This surgery removes all or part of the spleen. Depending on the extent of a patient's internal bleeding, it may sometimes be necessary to perform this operation as an emergency procedure. Occasionally, some types of ruptures may allow the surgeon to perform only a partial splenectomy, and this decreases the risk of infection patients face if a full splenectomy is required. Both procedures are performed using general anesthesia, and they can typically be completed with laparoscopic methods that use only two or three small incisions. After a splenectomy, patients will be at an elevated risk of infections, including sepsis. Children and young adults are at an increased risk of infections after this procedure. To reduce the risk of infections, doctors generally advise that patients receive vaccinations for pneumonia, meningitis, and influenza. These are normally given two weeks prior to an elective splenectomy, and they may also be given two weeks following an emergency procedure. Patients may also need to take antibiotics on a daily basis after their surgery. Anyone who has had a splenectomy should inform all doctors and healthcare professionals about this since it can impact treatment options and general care.