Spleen disorders and splenectomy
What does the spleen do?
The spleen has a few important functions:
- It fights any invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells).
- It controls the level of blood cells. The spleen controls the level of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets (small cells that form blood clots)
- It screens the blood and removes any old or damaged red blood cells.
If the spleen doesn't work properly, it may start to remove healthy blood cells. Thiscan lead to:
- anaemia , from a reduced number of red blood cells
- an increased risk of infection, from a reduced number of white blood cells
- bleeding or bruising, from a reduced number of platelets
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
NHS Choices information on spleen problems, splenectomy and living without a spleen, with links to other useful resources
What does the spleen do?
The spleen has a few important functions: It fights any invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells). It controls the level of blood cells. The spleen cont
Spleen problems
Spleen pain Spleen pain is usually felt as a pain behind your left ribs. It may be tender when you touch the area.This can be a sign of a damaged, ruptured or enlarged spleen. A damaged or ruptured
Splenectomy (having the spleen removed)
An operation to remove the spleen, known as a splenectomy, may be needed if the spleen is damaged, diseased or enlarged. It may sometimes be more appropriate to have just part of your spleen removed
Living without a spleen
If your spleen needs to be removed, other organs such as the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions. This meansyou will still be able to cope with most infections. However, there is a sma
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