What happens if the blood flow to the spleen stops? (Splenic Infarction) What is it? Let's talk!

Have you ever suddenly experienced severe pain in the upper left abdomen? Perhaps accompanied by fever and nausea? There may be a reason behind these symptoms that we sometimes don't even think about. That's one of those rare but important conditions to be aware of, which is what we're going to talk about today (Splenic Infarction) . Don't worry, let's talk about it simply.

What is (Splenic Infarction)? Let's understand it simply?

Okay, first let's see what the spleen is, where it is located, and what it does. This small organ called the spleen is located on the left side of our abdomen, a little closer to the stomach. Although it is small, its service is big. It works like a filter . It cleans the blood coming from our heart, that is, it removes things like old red blood cells from the blood. It also stores some blood. Another important thing is that it helps protect our body from diseases, that is, from germs . It is an important part of the immune system. So imagine, what happens if the spleen, which does such an important job, does not get enough blood? Just like when a tree or plant loses water, it gradually dies. If blood flow to some parts of the spleen stops, those tissues die without oxygen and nutrition. That is what we call it in medical terms (Splenic Infarction) . Simply put, a part of the spleen is dysfunctional, or "damaged." This is actually a fairly rare condition. It doesn't happen to everyone. But if it does, it could be a sign of another underlying medical condition. For example, it could be a sign of a serious illness like blood cancer , heart disease , or a problem with the pancreas . Hearing this can make you feel a little scared and anxious. However, this diagnosis is the first and most important step in getting the treatment you need. So it's important not to panic.

What are the symptoms of a splenic infarction?

There are several symptoms that appear in this condition. However, these symptoms do not occur in the same way for everyone.

• Main symptom: The main and often first symptom of this is a sudden, severe stomach pain. This is usually felt in the upper left side of the abdomen. In some people, this pain can also spread to the left shoulder. Some people also describe it as a sharp pain, like a knife stabbing.
• Fever: The body may become hot and fever may occur.
• Nausea and vomiting : You may feel sick to your stomach and feel like you are going to vomit.

Don't be quick to assume that this is (Splenic Infarction) when you see these symptoms. Because these symptoms can also occur in other diseases. But, especiallyIf you have sudden, severe pain in the upper left abdomen , it's not a good idea to ignore it.

Why does this (Splenic Infarction) occur? What are the causes?

Now let's look at what can cause the blood flow to the spleen to decrease or stop. There can be several reasons:

• Blood cancer : This condition can be caused by some types of blood cancers . For example, cancers such as (Leukemia), (Lymphoma), (Myelofibrosis), and ( Polycythemia Vera ) can affect the blood vessels that supply blood to the spleen.
• Blood clotting disorders: Some people have conditions that make their blood clot easily. For example , conditions like Protein C deficiency, Protein S deficiency, and Sickle Cell Anemia . These can cause blood clots to form, which can travel and block the blood vessels that supply blood to the spleen. It's like a piece of dirt stuck in a water pipe.
• Heart disease: Some heart diseases can cause blood clots to form and get stuck in the blood vessels leading to the spleen. Examples include atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), congestive heart failure (a condition in which the heart becomes weak), and infective endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart).
• Infectious diseases: Splenic infarction can also occur as a complication of some serious infectious diseases. Examples include Babesiosis (an infection caused by a parasite), COVID-19 , Malaria, and Mononucleosis (also known as the "kissing disease").
• Pancreatic disorders: The pancreas is another important organ in our abdomen. Some diseases of the pancreas, such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which is a condition that causes swelling) and some tumors in the pancreas, can also affect the blood flow to the spleen.
• Trauma: Imagine if you sustain an injury to the spleen, whether from a fall, a car accident, or a severe blow, it can also lead to a condition called splenic infarction.

Important: Splenic infarction occurs when a blood vessel leading to the spleen becomes blocked due to one or more of these reasons.

Complications that may occur due to Splenic Infarction

If this condition (Splenic Infarction) is not managed properly, some complications can occur. They are:

• Ruptured spleen: This is the most dangerous complication. The spleen ruptures internally, causing severe bleeding and can be life-threatening. This is a medical emergency.
• Abscess in your spleen: This is when dead tissue in your spleen becomes infected and pus collects and forms a lump. This also needs to be treated.
• Pseudocyst: This is not cancer, but a collection of fluid inside the spleen. Sometimes these can get better on their own, but sometimes they may require treatment.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

If you have the symptoms mentioned earlier, the first thing a doctor will do is examine you thoroughly.

• Physical examination: The doctor will feel your abdomen, especially the upper left side, to check for pain or tenderness. They will also ask you about other symptoms.
• Medical history: They will ask about your previous illnesses, the medications you take, and whether anyone in your family has had similar illnesses.
• Blood tests: Some blood tests may also be ordered. These can give some idea of ​​things like infections and blood clotting problems.
• Imaging tests: However, to confirm the diagnosis of splenic infarction, a computed tomography (CT) scan or ultrasound scan is often performed. These scans can clearly show the condition of the spleen and areas of reduced blood flow.

What are the treatments for Splenic Infarction?

The treatment you receive will depend on the underlying cause of your splenic infarction. That is, treating the cause is the most important thing.

• Treatment of the underlying disease: Suppose you have a serious underlying disease, such as blood cancer. Then the doctor will start treatment for that cancer, perhaps chemotherapy or immunotherapy . Or, if there is a blood clotting problem, he will give you the right medication for that.
• Supportive care: In addition, there are general treatments that can be given to reduce the symptoms of splenic infarction:
• If there are infections , antibiotics are given to control them.
• Stop dehydration, which means keeping the body's water levels at the right level by giving IV fluids or saline through a syringe.Can give.
• Pain medication is given to control the pain.
• Prescription medication for nausea can be given to control nausea and vomiting.

• Splenectomy: As mentioned earlier, if there is a serious complication, such as a ruptured spleen or an uncontrollable abscess, your doctor may decide to perform a surgery called a splenectomy to completely remove the spleen. However, this is only done if absolutely necessary.

What can be expected after this situation? (Prognosis)

This is a question that many people ask. "Doctor, will I get better? Will I ever be able to live like I used to?" The answer to this question depends entirely on the cause of your splenic infarction. For example, if it was caused by something temporary, such as an infection, antibiotics and other supportive treatments may completely clear up the symptoms and you may recover quickly. However, for someone with a long-term, serious illness, such as blood cancer, the situation may be different. In that case, splenic infarction is just a symptom or complication of that larger illness. Recovery then depends on how well the underlying illness can be controlled.

Therefore, the best person to know exactly what your condition is and what you can expect is your treating doctor. He or she will review your complete medical records and advise you accordingly.

When should I see a doctor? What are emergencies?

After tests confirm that you have splenic infarction, there are some things you need to be careful about even after treatment.

• If symptoms recur after treatment (e.g. stomach ache, fever), or if symptoms worsen, you should see your doctor immediately.
• A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency. It can be life-threatening. If you experience one or more of these symptoms , you should go to a hospital emergency room immediately, without delay:
• If the pain in the upper left side of the abdomen gets worse and becomes unbearable.
• If you experience dizziness .
• If you feel lightheaded or weak, unable to stand .
• If you experience nausea and vomiting (these may be signs of internal bleeding, meaning that your body is losing blood ).
• If you feel like your heart is beating fast, or if you feel like it's hard to breathe.

In an emergency like this, the most important thing is to act quickly.

Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)

I hope you now have a better idea of ​​what we've been talking about (Splenic Infarction). Although this can be a scary topic, it's important to be aware of it. Here are some of the most important things you need to remember:

• If you suddenly experience severe pain in the upper left side of your stomach, accompanied by fever and nausea, don't ignore it, thinking it's just a gas problem or a minor stomach ache.
• It could be this (Splenic Infarction) we talked about. Although this is rare, it is possible.
• Splenic infarction can sometimes be a sign of another serious underlying disease (e.g., blood cancer, heart disease).
• Therefore, it is very important to get an accurate diagnosis. To do this, see a doctor and get the necessary tests done.
• Treatment depends on the cause of the disease.
• If symptoms worsen, especially if the pain becomes severe or if you experience dizziness, seek medical advice immediately. This could be an emergency.

We hope that you never have to deal with something like this! However, knowing about these things can be beneficial for you and your loved ones at any time. Stay healthy! Spleen, Splenic Infarction, Stomach Pain, Bleeding, Symptoms, Treatment, Spleen Insufficiency