A man involved in a traffic accident is rushed to the emerge

A man involved in a traffic accident is rushed to the emergency room of a hospital with severe internal bleeding. Examination reveals a ruptured spleen. What is the treatment of choice and what is the likely long-term outcome (prognosis)?

Solution

The treatment of choice would depend on the severity of the trauma. Here, it\'s given that the injury is severe as there is a lot of internal bleeding. Assuming the spleen is beyond the state of treatment, a splenectomy can be done as the functions of the spleen can be done by other organs as well, such as the liver, and also not removing the spleen immediately could result in abdominal shock leading to death.

Splenectomy will affect the immunity, as antibodies are processed in the spleen. Any necessary immunizations must be given soon. Antibiotics must be given in case of low immunity. In the long term, the body will allocate it\'s functions to other organs, such as RBC destruction to the liver, and immunity related to the lymph nodes and there should be no lack of function.