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Human Body

Blood and Circulation

How serious is damage to the spleen?

Damage to the spleen, which is often the result of an injury caused by a blow to the left side of the abdomen, may be life-threatening. Since the spleen is a fragile organ, an injury can easily rupture it, resulting in serious internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, circulatory shock, and even death. Once the spleen ruptures, the only remedy is to surgically remove it in a procedure called a splenectomy.



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