Do I really need my spleen?

The spleen can enlarge up to 20cm due to various diseases, as well as injury. — Freepik

My friend was involved in a recent road traffic accident – his car collided with a van. It was quite bad. He was rushed to the hospital and had to have his spleen removed. What is the spleen?

Your spleen is an organ that sits inside your left rib cage.

You are unlikely to be able to feel it even if you press your abdomen just under your left rib cage, but sometimes, a doctor can feel about one centimetre of it as they’ve been trained on how to find it.

It sits just above and behind your stomach, and just under your diaphragm.

It is a relatively small organ, just about six to 13 cm in length, but it can be enlarged.

Normally, it is shaped like a fist and coloured purple.

What does my spleen do?Your spleen does more things that we usually give it credit for.

It is part of your lymphatic system, which is a large part of your entire immune system.

Here’s what it does:

• Filters your blood by removing waste from your cells.
• Gets rid of your old or damaged cells.
• Stores blood and blood components, such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
• Produces white blood cells (lymphocytes) and antibodies, which will help you fight infection.
• Maintains fluid levels in your body.

Are there diseases of the spleen?

There are three main conditions that can occur to your spleen.

One is enlargement, another is when your spleen does not function as it should, and the third is when there is damage to your spleen, such as what happened to your friend.

How does my spleen get enlarged?

There are many things that can cause your spleen to become bigger.

Sometimes, your spleen can be so enlarged as to actually cause an uncomfortable mass in your abdomen.

The doctor would definitely be able to feel it then!

A large spleen can also cause you pain.

The spleen can be enlarged due to:

• Cancer, such as blood cancers like leukaemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and solid cancers that spread to the spleen.
• Anaemia, such as haemolytic anaemia.
• Blood clots in the spleen or liver.
• Certain infections, such as malaria, syphilis and infection of the heart’s inner lining (endocarditis).
• Liver issues that cause blood flow backlog, such as liver cirrhosis.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Metabolic diseases, such as Gaucher disease.
• Protein disorders, such as amyloidosis.

An enlarged spleen is called splenomegaly.

It is a sign that there is something else wrong with the body rather than a disease on its own.

Why should my spleen not function as it should?

There is such a condition called functional asplenia, where the spleen doesn’t work at all.

It can be the result of spleen damage, coeliac disease or sickle cell disease (common in Africa, not Malaysia).

On the opposite end, your spleen may overreact in a condition called hypersplenism.

It will also grow bigger in this condition.

And because too many of your red and white blood cells, as well as platelets, are being destroyed, you have all the following symptoms:

• Feeling tired and cold due to anaemia.
• Becoming less resistant to infections because you don’t have enough white blood cells and antibodies to fend off pathogens.
• Bleeding and bruising easily due to a low platelet count.

How can the spleen get injured in road traffic accidents?

It is not that common, but it can happen if there is a blow to your abdomen.

If this happens, your spleen can tear or rupture.

And this doesn’t just happen in road traffic accidents; if you get involved in a fight or play body contact sports, any blow to your abdomen can result in damage to your spleen.

Splenic damage or rupture is a very serious thing that requires immediate attention, because your spleen can bleed and bleed.

It can even occur days or weeks after your initial injury.

If you have been involved in an injury or accident, do suspect splenic injury if you have pain under your ribs on the left side, nausea, dizziness and your heartbeat quickens.

My friend’s spleen was completely removed – how can he live without a spleen?

Actually, you can live without a spleen.

Removal of the spleen is called splenectomy.

Your spleen may have to be removed if it is too damaged or diseased.

If you no longer have a spleen, your liver will take over many of your spleen’s functions.

Sometimes, your spleen is also removed if you have certain types of low platelet disease, because it destroys too many platelets.

Naturally, if you have no spleen, you can have a higher risk of infection.

Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health, computers and entertainment. For further information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.