Medical Answers About the Spleen

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Jill Chadwick

News Director

Office: (913) 588-5013

Cell: (913) 223-3974

Email

jchadwick@kumc.edu

The announcement today by The Kansas City Chiefs that quarterback Alex Smith has a lacerated spleen has focused attention on the spleen. Mark Scott, DO, emergency medicine, says the spleen serves as an important blood filter but people can live without one. Dr. Scott noted treatment varies from being monitored as an outpatient for a few weeks to surgical removal of the spleen.