What happens if the spleen is removed

The spleen is a very important organ in our body, responsible for functions such as hematopoiesis, blood filtration, endocrine system, and immunity. At the same time, the spleen is also easily damaged, especially in car accidents, falls, knife wounds, etc., which can cause damage to the spleen. In severe cases, it may even rupture, and splenectomy is often required to deal with it. Without a spleen in the body, one would certainly be concerned about the effects. So, what happens if the spleen is removed? Let’s take a look below.

Generally speaking, splenectomy has little impact on daily life and life expectancy. However, in recent years, some people believe from an immunological perspective that splenectomy will reduce the body's resistance and weaken metabolism.

The main functions of the spleen are digestion and absorption, transfer of nutrients, transportation of water, and control of blood. The spleen is related to muscles, limbs, and lips. After splenectomy, the body's immunity will definitely decrease, and it will be relatively easy to have secondary infections, such as respiratory tract infections, intestinal infections, etc. Therefore, after splenectomy, attention should be paid to strengthening infection prevention, including keeping warm, food hygiene, personal hygiene, proper exercise, etc. But the spleen is not the only immune organ. After a period of adjustment after surgery, the body's immunity can be restored to a certain extent, and some of its immune functions will be replaced by other immune organs. Of course, it is unlikely to fully recover like a normal person. Studies have shown that even for normal people, the damage to the body after spleen removal is very small. You don't need to pay too much attention in your daily life and can live like a normal person, but you should be careful to eat less food that is harmful to the liver.

After splenectomy, the body's immune function will be weakened and its ability to resist infection will also decrease. Not only will the susceptibility increase, but dangerous infections may also occur after splenectomy. This is a special problem in the long term after splenectomy. Patients who have undergone splenectomy should be wary of the risk of severe infection after splenectomy throughout their lives. Once any infectious symptoms occur, they should go to the hospital for treatment in time to avoid serious consequences.

Therefore, when the spleen has certain diseases, it is best to take some drug treatment first. If the spleen has to be removed, good care should be taken after the removal to minimize the possibility of infection. In addition, in the future diet, you should try to eat more easily digestible foods.