What Is an Infarction of the Spleen?

An infection of the spleen is commonly referred to as splenic infarction. It is caused by necrosis (tissue death) within the spleen because of an obstruction in blood flow. This happens when the spleen's oxygen supply is disturbed, which causes either partial or full infarction within the organ. This infarction occurs when the splenic artery (or perhaps one of its branches) becomes closed up.

Causes

• There are various possible causes of infarction of the spleen. These possible causes include blood clotting, various infections (like endocartitis), and blood disorders (like sickle cell anemia, which is a lifelong medical condition in which the body produces red blood cells with abnormal shapes).

Treatment

• There is no specific and defined treatment plan for splenic infarctions. In many cases, these infarctions are treated by instead taking care of the underlying medical condition that causes them (such as endocartitis and blood clotting). Pain relief can also help soothe these infarctions. In cases of complications, individuals might require a splenectomy (surgery to eliminate a damaged or diseased spleen).

Symptoms

• Symptoms of splenic infarction are extreme pain in the abdomen's upper left corner, which occasionally spreads all the way over to the left shoulder, as well as chills and fever.

Complications

• Complications of splenic infarctions include splenic abscess, hemorrhaging, ruptured spleen, formation of a pseudocyst, and in extremely severe cases, even death.

Other Factors

• Any factor that could have an effect on the well-being of the splenic artery could lead to splenic infarctions, although they are generally caused by the aforementioned medical conditions (such as blood clotting and endocartitis). These other possible causal factors include aortic dissection, splenic artery torsion (related to wandering spleen), and traumas of the abdominal region.