Thrombophlebitis

Subject: Midwifery III (Theory)

Overview

A blood clot that stops one or more of your veins, usually in your legs, causes thrombophlebitis. Rarely, thrombophlebitis (also known as phlebitis) can affect the veins in your arms or neck. Depending on the affected vein's location, you may experience superficial thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis. Thrombophlebitis may result from surgery, trauma, or extended inactivity. Varicose vein sufferers may develop superficial thrombophlebitis, which is brought on by a blood clot. Numerous factors, most notably anything that prevents your blood from flowing normally, might lead to blood clots. drugs that thin the blood. If you have deep vein thrombosis, an injection of a blood-thinning (anticoagulant) drug, such as fondaparinux (Arixtra) or low molecular weight heparin, will stop the clots from growing. Warfarin (Coumadin), an oral anticoagulant, must be taken for several months after the initial therapy to keep clots from expanding.

Thrombophlebitis

Definition

A blood clot that stops one or more of your veins, usually in your legs, causes thrombophlebitis. In rare cases, thrombophlebitis, also known as phlebitis, can damage the veins in your neck or arms.

Depending on where the afflicted vein is located, you may experience superficial thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Thrombophlebitis may result from surgery, trauma, or extended inactivity. People with varicose veins may get superficial thrombophlebitis.

Symptoms

  • Superficial thrombophlebitis symptoms include:
    • Warmth, tenderness and pain in the affected area.
    • Redness and swelling.
  • Deep vein thrombosis symptoms include:
    • Pain.
    • Swelling.

Causes

The cause of thrombophlebitis is a blood clot. Blood clots can be caused by many different things ; namely anything that causes your blood not to circulate properly. It's possible a blood clot that causes thrombophlebitis could be caused by:

  • Damage to a vein,
  • a hereditary blood-clotting condition,
  • Being immobile for a protracted period of time, as when being hospitalized.

Tests and Diagnosis

  • Blood Test: Almost everyone with a blood clot has an elevated blood level of a naturally occurring, a clot-dissolving substance called D-dimer.
  • Ultrasound: A wand-like device (transducer) moved over the affected area of your leg sends sound waves into your leg.
  • CT Scan: Computerized tomography (CT) scan can provide visual images of your lungs and may show if a clot is present.

Treatments and Drugs

  • Blood-thinning Medications: If you have deep vein thrombosis, injection of a blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medication, such as low molecular weight heparin or fondaparinux (Arixtra), will prevent clots from enlarging. After the initial treatment, taking the oral anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin) for several months continues to prevent clots from enlarging.
  • Clot-dissolving Medications: This type of treatment is known as thrombolysis. These medications, such as alteplase (Activase), dissolve blood clots and are used for extensive deep vein thrombosis or in some cases of deep vein thrombosis that also include a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolus).
  • Compression Stockings: Prescription-strength compression stockings help prevent recurrent swelling and reduce the chances of complications of deep vein thrombosis. Your doctor may recommend that you wear these for two years or more.
  • Varicose Vein Stripping: Your doctor can surgically remove varicose veins that cause pain or recurrent thrombophlebitis in a procedure called varicose vein stripping. This procedure involves removing a long vein through small incisions
Things to remember
  • A blood clot that blocks one or more of your veins, usually in your legs, causes thrombophlebitis. In rare cases, thrombophlebitis, also known as phlebitis, can affect the veins in your neck or arms.
  • Depending on where the affected vein is located, you may experience superficial thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis. Thrombophlebitis may result from surgery, trauma, or extended inactivity.
  • People with varicose veins may experience superficial thrombophlebitis.
  • A blood clot is the cause of thrombophlebitis.
  • Numerous factors, most notably anything that prevents your blood from flowing normally, might lead to blood clots. drugs that thin the blood.
  • If you have deep vein thrombosis, an injection of a blood-thinning (anticoagulant) drug, such as fondaparinux (Arixtra) or low molecular weight heparin, will stop the clots from growing.
  • Warfarin (Coumadin), an oral anticoagulant, must be taken for several months after the initial treatment to keep clots from expanding.
Questions and Answers

Thrombophlebitis occurs when a blood clot blocks one or more of your veins, typically in your legs. Rarely, thrombophlebitis (sometimes called phlebitis) can affect veins in your arms or neck.

The cause of thrombophlebitis is a blood clot. Blood clots can be caused by many different things ; namely anything that causes your blood not to circulate properly. It's possible a blood clot that causes thrombophlebitis could be caused by:

- An injury to a vein,

- An inherited blood-clotting disorder,

- Being immobile for long periods of time, such as during a hospital stay.

- Blood-thinning medications. If you have deep vein thrombosis, injection of a blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medication, such as low molecular weight heparin or fondaparinux (Arixtra), will prevent clots from enlarging. After the initial treatment, taking the oral anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin) for several months continues to prevent clots from enlarging.

- Clot-dissolving medications. This type of treatment is known as thrombolysis. These medications, such as alteplase (Activase), dissolve blood clots and are used for extensive deep vein thrombosis or in some cases of deep vein thrombosis that also include a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolus).

- Compression stockings. Prescription-strength compression stockings help prevent recurrent swelling and reduce the chances of complications of deep vein thrombosis. Your doctor may recommend that you wear these for two years or more.

- Varicose vein stripping. Your doctor can surgically remove varicose veins that cause pain or recurrent thrombophlebitis in a procedure called varicose vein stripping. This procedure involves removing a long vein through small incisions

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