Splenic Disease

The spleen is an intraperitoneal organ located in the upper left abdomen. It functions both in the removal of old or damaged red blood cells and plays a role in cellular and humoral immune responses.

Splenic infarcts fortunately are rare events, caused by occlusion of the splenic artery or one of its branches, which results in tissue necrosis. There are a variety of potential causes, however in some cases a splenectomy is indicated and surgical input is routinely required.

The spleen is a very vascular organ therefore any rupture can result in significant blood loss. Whilst most cases are managed conservatively or with interventional radiology, surgical intervention can be essential.