Side Effect: Rupture of Spleen

What is Rupture of Spleen?

A ruptured spleen, also known as splenic rupture, is a medical emergency that occurs when the spleen ruptures or tears. Since the spleen is responsible for storing and filtering blood cells a rupture can result in severe bleeding, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.

What does Rupture of Spleen look like?

The symptoms of a ruptured spleen may include pain or tenderness in the upper left side of the abdomen, shoulder pain, lightheadedness or dizziness, fainting, confusion, or blurred vision. In some cases, there may also be signs of shock, such as rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, pale skin, or cold and clammy skin.

Who gets Rupture of Spleen?

Patients with cancer involving the blood or lymphatic system may be at higher risk for developing a ruptured spleen. This can include patients with leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, such as filgrastim (Neupogen®, Zarxio®, Nivestym®) and pegfilgrastim (Neulasta®, Udenyca®, Fulphila®), which are used to speed up the production of certain white blood cells, can also increase the risk of splenic rupture.

How to prevent Rupture of Spleen

Decreasing the risk of a ruptured spleen involves careful monitoring and taking steps to avoid activities that could increase the risk of injury or trauma. For example, patients with an enlarged spleen may be advised to avoid contact sports or heavy lifting.

How to treat Rupture of Spleen

Treatment for a ruptured spleen depends on the severity of the condition. Sever injuries will usually require immediate surgery. If the injury is small to moderate it might be able to heal on its own while you are monitored in the hospital or your physician may order a non-surgical procedure, known as an embolization, to help minimize the blood loss from the spleen. If surgery is required, the surgeon might try to repair the spleen (splenorrhaphy) or they may need to remove part or all of the spleen (partial or total splenectomy).