Wandering 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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