| Phlebitis is a term used to describe inflammation of a vein anywhere in the body. Often, phlebitis is manifest by an exquisitely tender, red and throbbing localized area of inflammation of the leg or arm. In the United States population, 3-11% of us will be affected by phlebitis in our lifetime. In other words, this is a common problem! |
| The deeper form of phlebitis called “deep vein thrombosis” (DVT), is quite serious and usually affects the entire leg or arm with pain and swelling and demands immediate medical attention and tests. |
 Thrombophlebitis in a vein closer to the skin surface can happen without warning in a healthy individual or can be triggered by a local injury to a vein after a traumatic contusion or insertion of an intravenous catheter. Patients with varicose veins, those who are obese, and those who have undergone treatment for a malignancy in the past are at increased risk for developing this condition and its recurrence. Despite these inflammatory events appearing similar to an infection, bacteria are rarely involved and use of antibiotics is usually not indicated. The exact reason for thrombophlebitis occurring in some patients is never determined. |
| Thrombophlebitis of all types is associated with a blood clot which forms within the vein adding to this painful inflammatory process as clotted blood itself acts as an irritant to the body. Still, we physicians had believed most patients with acute superficial thrombophlebitis did not have a serious condition and their problem, though painful, resolved in a week with heat, anti-inflammatory drugs and reassurance. |
| Recently, the above medical thinking has been challenged. It is now known that superficial thrombophlebitis put some patients at risk for major complications. The reason why vein specialists are now alarmed is that in 2010, a large research study from France demonstrated that one in every 4-5 patients that visit their doctor with an episode of superficial thrombophlebitis was found (if checked thoroughly) to have a blood clot in a deeper vein of their body or even in their lungs! Just as alarming, of those who did not have these complications initially, an additional 10% developed some type of blood clot complication within 3 months. |
 Accordingly, physicians like myself are recommending that any patient who develops superficial thrombophlebitis should be referred to a vein specialist or at least have certain tests to determine if they have a more involved process. These tests, such as an ultrasound exam of the legs or arms are rapid, safe and economical. While it is routine to prescribe 6 months of potent blood thinners for a patient with a blood clot in the deeper veins of the leg or in the lung, it was quite unusual to prescribe a blood thinner medication to a patient with just superficial thrombophlebitis. There are now certain situations depending on the patient’s history and test results where a blood thinning medication by pill or injection IS recommended for superficial thrombophlebitis…but usually only for 4-12 weeks. |
| Our goal at Vein Specialist of Tampa is to prevent, detect and when indicated, treat potentially dangerous complications in our patients with superficial thrombophlebitis. Like a lot of things in science and medicine, the more we learn and understand about a problem, the better we are at keeping our patients healthy and safe. |
