Spleen Injury Singapore | Surgical Associates

Spleen injury

By Dr. Lee Ser Yee

The spleen is an organ situated just under the rib cage on the left side of the abdomen. A tear or rupture of the spleen occurs as a result of a break in your spleen's surface, usually after a forceful blow to the abdomen (for example, in sports injuries, road traffic accidents, or physical altercations). However, some people have enlarged spleens which may rupture with less forceful or minor trauma.

A rupture of the spleen is a medical emergency, as the internal bleeding that develops can be life-threatening. Emergency surgery may be required, and in some cases, surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy) may be necessary to control the bleeding. Less severe cases can be treated with several days of hospital care and close monitoring.

Signs and symptoms of a ruptured spleen (usually after trauma to the abdomen) include:

Pain in the upper left abdomen
Tenderness when you touch the upper left abdomen
Distention of the abdomen
Left shoulder pain
Confusion, light-headedness or dizziness

Seek emergency attention after an injury if your signs and symptoms indicate that you may have a ruptured spleen. A surgical consult is necessary.

Prevention

If you've been diagnosed with an enlarged spleen, ask your doctor whether you need to avoid activities that could cause it to rupture, such as contact sports, heavy lifting and other activities that increase the risk of abdominal trauma.

Stomach and Spleen Illustration

Dr Lee Ser Yee

Senior Consultant Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgeon

MBBS, MMed (Surgery), MSc, FAMS, FRCSEd

Prior to private practice, liver surgeon Dr Lee Ser Yee was a founding member and Senior Consultant at the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and Transplant Surgery at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). He served as the Director of the Laparoscopic programme and the Director of the Surgical Skills Training Program and the SingHealth Surgical Skills Centre.

He started his medical training at the National University of Singapore in 1996 and completed his training in General Surgery, HPB surgery and Liver Transplantation at SGH and National Cancer Centre, Singapore.

He also completed dual USA-fellowships in Advanced Laparoscopic HPB surgery and Liver Transplantation under Professor Daniel Cherqui at the New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center and a Complex Surgical Oncology clinical fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
#08-07, 3 Mount Elizabeth, Singapore 228510
Tel: 6454 0054 | Fax: 6764 0054 | Email: ask@surgicalassociates.sg

Gleneagles Medical Centre
#05-01, 6 Napier Road, Singapore 258499
Tel: 6471 0054 | Fax: 6271 0054

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