A Simple Guide to Thrombophlebitis, Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions

This book describes Thrombophlebitis, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of a vein that is distended due to a blood clot.

It normally happens in the legs.

A blood clot is a solid structure of blood cells that clump together.

Blood clots can disrupt normal blood flow throughout the body, and are regarded as dangerous.

Thrombophlebitis can happen in veins near the surface of the skin or further down in between the muscle layers.

Superficial indicates that the veins are below the skin's surface.

Superficial thrombophlebitis happens when a superficial vein (normally the long saphenous vein of the leg or its tributaries) is inflamed and the blood inside it clots.

This disorder normally happens in the legs, but it is possible to form thrombophlebitis in other parts of the body.

Blood clots can produce swelling in the veins of the neck or arms, but this is infrequent.

Thrombphlebitis involves veins and is a different disorder from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

It may spontaneously happen or is linked with one or more risk factors - e.g., varicose veins.

It is normally a benign self-limiting disorder but it can be difficult to treat and slow to resolve.

Symptoms of thrombophlebitis are swelling, redness, and tenderness over the affected vein.

This disorder may happen after injury to the vein.

The patient might also form blood clots if the patient has injured the blood vessels.

Trauma to the limb in question may induce damage to a vein.

The patient may also obtain injury to a blood vessel from intravenous (IV) needles or catheters during a medical procedure.

This form of injury is a less frequent cause of blood clots.

Or it may happen after the infusion of the medicines given into the veins.

A blood clot produces thrombophlebitis.

Inactivity, such as being bedridden after trauma or surgery, is a primary cause of blood clots.

The patient can also form a blood clot if the patient sits still for too long, such as during a plane ride or a car ride.

Standing up, stretching, and moving the feet periodically during long flights or car rides can assist in reducing the risk of blood clots.

Movement stimulates circulation, which stops the blood cells from sticking together.

If the patient has a high danger for blood clots, the patient may form them for no clear reason.

Risk factors

The 3 major risk factors (Virchow's triad) are:
1. Damage to the blood vessel wall (as a result of injury, infection, or inflammation).
2. Stasis of blood flow.
3. Hyper-coagulability of blood.

Other specific risk factors are:
Obesity.
Thrombophilia.
Smoking.
Oral contraceptives.
Pregnancy
Intravenous drug abuse.
Intravenous infusion (particularly if an irritant substance was infused).
Cancer or liver disease

The doctor will diagnose this disorder based mostly on the appearance of the affected vein.

Duplex ultrasonography of the blood vessels helps substantiate the disorder.

If there are signs of an infection, skin or blood cultures may be performed

Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or fondaparinux is required for the treatment of choice for SVT

NSAID and antibiotics therapy seems to decrease the incidence of thrombophlebitis

​​​​​​​The doctor might want to remove the vein if a person with thrombophlebitis feels permanently uncomfortable or unsightly, or if the patient has this disorder in the same vein more than once.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Thrombophlebitis
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Deep Venous Thrombosis
Chapter 8 Varicosity of Veins
Epilogue