Wandering Spleen and Associated Abdominal Emergencies
Summary
Wandering spleen is a rare clinical entity characterised by excessive mobility of the spleen due to underdevelopment or laxity of its suspensory ligaments. The hypermobile organ may migrate within the abdominal or pelvic cavity, predisposing to torsion of the vascular pedicle, impaired perfusion and infarction. Presentations range from intermittent abdominal discomfort or a palpable mass to an acute abdomen with severe pain, nausea and systemic signs. Imaging modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography and contrast-enhanced studies have become pivotal in early diagnosis, guiding decisions between splenopexy to preserve splenic function and splenectomy in cases of irreversible ischaemia. Advances in minimally invasive surgery have expanded options for organ-preserving splenopexy, while open and laparoscopic splenectomy remain essential for emergent infarction. Associated complications include organ involvement beyond the spleen, such as gastric volvulus, pancreatic tail torsion and colonic entrapment, underscoring the need for comprehensive assessment and multidisciplinary management.
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Wandering Spleen and Associated Abdominal Emergencies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in wandering spleen and associated abdominal emergencies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Wandering spleen: A spleen that is abnormally mobile due to absent or lax suspensory ligaments.
Splenic torsion: Twisting of the splenic vascular pedicle leading to compromised blood flow.
Splenopexy: Surgical fixation of the spleen to restore normal anatomical position and preserve function.
Splenectomy: Surgical removal of the spleen, employed when infarction is irreversible or necrosis is present.
Infarction: Tissue death resulting from prolonged ischaemia.
Volvulus: Twisting of a hollow organ (such as stomach or colon) around its mesentery, potentially causing obstruction or ischaemia.
References
- Wandering spleen torsion—use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound. BJR|case reports (2016).
- Torsion of wandering spleen involving the pancreatic tail. Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2019).
- Wandering Spleen and Organoaxial Gastric Volvulus after Morgagni Hernia Repair: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Reports in Surgery (2016).
- Splenic torsion with involvement of pancreas and descending colon in a 9-year-old boy. BJR|case reports (2018).
- The Importance of Recognizing Wandering Spleen as a Cause of Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis. Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine (2018).
About these summaries
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