Thrombophlebitis |
Classification and external resources |
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ICD-10 |
I80, I82.1 |
ICD-9 |
451 |
MedlinePlus |
001108 |
MeSH |
D013924 |
Thrombophlebitis is phlebitis (vein inflammation) related to a thrombus (blood clot).[1] When it occurs repeatedly in different locations, it is known as "Thrombophlebitis migrans" or "migrating thrombophlebitis".
Contents
- 1 Signs and symptoms
- 2 Causes
- 3 Diagnosis
- 4 Prevention
- 5 Treatment
- 6 Prognosis
- 7 Complications
- 8 References
- 9 See also
Signs and symptoms[edit]
The following symptoms are often (but not always) associated with thrombophlebitis:[2]
- pain in the part of the body affected
- skin redness or inflammation (not always present)
- swelling (edema) of the extremities (ankle and foot)
- palpable cord-like veins
Causes[edit]
Thrombophlebitis (another medical term is "White Leg") is related to a thrombus in a superficial vein. Risk factors include disorders related to increased tendency for blood clotting, injury to vein wall and reduced speed of blood in the veins such as varices and prolonged immobility. Prolonged traveling by car or airplane may promote a blood clot leading to thrombophlebitis but this occurs relatively rarely. Specific disorders associated with thrombophlebitis include superficial thrombophlebitis (affects veins near the skin surface) and deep venous thrombosis (affects deeper, larger veins). Thrombophlebitis can be found in people with Behcet's disease. Thrombophlebitis migrans can be a non-metastatic manifestation of malignancies such as pancreatic carcinoma (Trousseau sign of malignancy).
Diagnosis[edit]
The health care provider makes the diagnosis primarily based on the appearance of the affected area. Frequent checks of the pulse, blood pressure, temperature, skin condition, and circulation may be required.
If the cause is not readily identifiable, tests may be performed to determine the cause, including the following:
- Doppler ultrasound
- Extremity arteriography
- Blood coagulation studies (Blood clotting tests)
Prevention[edit]
Routine changing of intravenous (IV) lines helps to prevent phlebitis related to IV lines. See the specific disorders associated with thrombophlebitis for other preventive measures.
Treatment[edit]
For more specific recommendations, see the particular condition. In general, treatment may include the following:
- Medications
- analgesics (pain medications)
- anticoagulants e.g. warfarin or heparin to prevent new clot formation
- thrombolytics to dissolve an existing clot such as intravenous streptokinase.
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation
- Support stockings and wraps to reduce discomfort
The patient may be advised to do the following:
- Elevate the affected area to reduce swelling.
- Keep pressure off of the area to reduce pain and decrease the risk of further damage.
- Surgical removal, stripping, or bypass of the vein is rarely needed but may be recommended in some situations.
Prognosis[edit]
Thrombophlebitis and other forms of phlebitis usually respond to prompt medical treatment.
Complications[edit]
Not all superficial thrombophlebitis is benign [3] Complications are rare, but when they occur they can be serious. The most serious complication occurs when the superficial blood clot is associated with a deeper venous thrombosis; this can then dislodge, traveling through the heart and occluding the dense capillary network of the lungs; this is a pulmonary embolism which can be potentially life threatening.
References[edit]
- ^ Torpy JM, Burke AE, Glass RM (July 2006). "JAMA patient page. Thrombophlebitis". JAMA 296 (4): 468. doi:10.1001/jama.296.4.468. PMID 16868304.
- ^ Thrombophlebitis. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Public domain text. Update Date: 4/19/2004. Updated by: Brian F. Burke M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, MI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
- ^ Venous Review The Official Journal of Center for Vein Restoration
See also[edit]
- Phlebothrombosis
- Mondor's disease
- Cardiovascular disease: vascular disease
- Circulatory system pathology
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Arteries, arterioles
and capillaries |
Inflammation
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- Arteritis
- Buerger's disease
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Arterial occlusive disease /
peripheral vascular disease
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Arteriosclerosis
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- Atherosclerosis
- Foam cell
- Fatty streak
- Atheroma
- Intermittent claudication
- Monckeberg's arteriosclerosis
- Arteriolosclerosis
- Hyaline
- Hyperplastic
- Cholesterol
- LDL
- Oxycholesterol
- Trans fat
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Stenosis
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- Carotid artery stenosis
- Renal artery stenosis
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Other
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- Aortoiliac occlusive disease
- Degos disease
- Erythromelalgia
- Fibromuscular dysplasia
- Raynaud's phenomenon
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Aneurysm / dissection /
pseudoaneurysm
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- torso: Aortic aneurysm
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm
- Aortic dissection
- Coronary artery aneurysm
- head / neck
- Intracranial aneurysm
- Intracranial berry aneurysm
- Carotid artery dissection
- Vertebral artery dissection
- Familial aortic dissection
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Vascular malformation
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- Arteriovenous fistula
- Arteriovenous malformation
- Telangiectasia
- Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia
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Vascular nevus
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- Cherry hemangioma
- Halo nevus
- Spider angioma
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Veins |
Inflammation
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Venous thrombosis /
Thrombophlebitis
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- primarily lower limb
- abdomen
- Hepatic veno-occlusive disease
- Budd–Chiari syndrome
- May–Thurner syndrome
- Portal vein thrombosis
- Renal vein thrombosis
- upper limb / torso
- Mondor's disease
- Paget–Schroetter disease
- head
- Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
- Post-thrombotic syndrome
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Varicose veins
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- Gastric varices
- Portacaval anastomosis
- Caput medusae
- Esophageal varices
- Hemorrhoid
- Varicocele
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Other
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- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency
- Superior vena cava syndrome
- Inferior vena cava syndrome
- Venous ulcer
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Arteries or veins |
- Angiopathy
- Macroangiopathy
- Microangiopathy
- Embolism
- Pulmonary embolism
- Cholesterol embolism
- Paradoxical embolism
- Thrombosis
- Vasculitis
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Blood pressure |
Hypertension
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- Hypertensive heart disease
- Hypertensive emergency
- Hypertensive nephropathy
- Essential hypertension
- Secondary hypertension
- Renovascular hypertension
- Benign hypertension
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Systolic hypertension
- White coat hypertension
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Hypotension
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anat (a:h/u/t/a/l,v:h/u/t/a/l)/phys/devp/cell/prot
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noco/syva/cong/lyvd/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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proc, drug (C2s+n/3/4/5/7/8/9)
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