Wandering spleen

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

(Redirected from Displaced spleen)


Other Names[edit | edit source]

Displaced spleen; Drifting spleen; Splenoptosis; Floating spleen; Splenic ptosis.

Clinical features[edit | edit source]

Wandering spleen is a rare condition that occurs when the spleen lacks one or more of the ligaments that hold the spleen in its normal position in the upper left abdomen.

Congenital wandering spleen[edit | edit source]

If a person is born with this condition it is referred to as congenital wandering spleen.

Inheritance[edit | edit source]

The condition is not hereditary.

Cause[edit | edit source]

Acquired wandering spleen may occur during adulthood due to injuries or other underlying conditions that may weaken the ligaments that hold the spleen.

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

Symptoms of wandering spleen may include enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly), abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, nausea, vomiting, fever, and a lump in the abdomen or the pelvis.

Asymptomatic[edit | edit source]

Some individuals with this condition do not have symptoms.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for this condition involves removal of the spleen (splenectomy).

Complications[edit | edit source]

Because wandering spleen can cause life-threatening complications (such as splenic infarction, portal hypertension, and hemorrhage), surgery to remove the spleen is the preferred treatment method for patients.

Laparoscopic splenectomy[edit | edit source]

Laparoscopic splenectomy is the typical method used for spleen removal.

Splenopexy[edit | edit source]

Splenopexy (surgically fixing the floating spleen) is associated with a high risk of recurrence and complications and is not the preferred treatment choice.


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