Diagnosis of a ruptured spleen
A physical exam may be the only test done to diagnose a ruptured spleen. The doctor will feel the belly area of the person and the abdomen may feel swollen and watch because it is full of blood.
If there was a great loss of blood from the spleen, the patient may have low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate. Sudden drop in blood pressure in someone who is believed to have a lesion of the spleen, especially a young, is a sign that the condition is particularly serious and urgent surgery is necessary.
Imaging tests can help diagnose a ruptured spleen. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen is one of the most commonly used. During the test, a special substance, called contrast, is injected into a vein, usually in the arm. The contrast helps the doctor to determine the amount of blood from the spleen. Active bleeding from the spleen can not be seen on an abdominal CT scan without contrast.
However, a CT scan of the abdomen may be done only if time permits. A CT scan with contrast medium may take some time, and some people with broken spleen died while waiting to get the test done. For this reason, a CT scan is not recommended for those with a ruptured spleen that have unstable vital signs or low blood pressure because of the injury suggests that shock.
Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is a method to quickly determine if blood is collected in the abdominal area. It 's fast and inexpensive, and can be done on patients splenic rupture, which has low blood pressure.
An MRI of the abdomen may be an option for patients with renal impairment or who have severe allergies to the substance of contrast used during a CT scan.
If the person is stable and does not require emergency surgery, laboratory testing as a complete blood count (CBC) or hemoglobin level can be conducted at regular intervals to check the blood loss.
