Thrombophlebitis is phlebitis

Phlebitis

Phlebitis is an inflammation of a vein, usually in the legs.When phlebitis is associated with the formation of blood clots , usually in the deep veins of the legs, the condition is called thrombophlebitis...

 (vein inflammation

Inflammation

Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...

) related to a thrombus

Thrombus

A thrombus , or blood clot, is the final product of the blood coagulation step in hemostasis. It is achieved via the aggregation of platelets that form a platelet plug, and the activation of the humoral coagulation system...

 (blood clot). When it occurs repeatedly in different locations, it is known as "Thrombophlebitis migrans" or "migrating thrombophlebitis".

Signs and symptoms

The following symptoms are often (but not always) associated with thrombophlebitis:

• pain in the part of the body affected
• skin redness or inflammation (not always present)
• swelling (edema
  Edema
  Edema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling...
  
  ) of the extremities (ankle and foot)

Causes

Thrombophlebitis (another medical term is "White Leg") is related to a thrombus in the vein. Risk factors include prolonged sitting and disorders related to blood clotting. Specific disorders associated with thrombophlebitis include superficial thrombophlebitis (affects veins near the skin surface) and deep venous thrombosis (affects deeper, larger veins). Thrombophlebitis migrans can be a non-metastatic

Metastasis

Metastasis, or metastatic disease , is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. It was previously thought that only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize; however, this is being reconsidered due to new research...

 manifestation of malignancies such as pancreatic carcinoma

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...

 (Trousseau sign of malignancy

Trousseau sign of malignancy

The Trousseau sign of malignancy is a medical sign found in certain cancers that is associated with venous thrombosis and hypercoagulability. It is also referred to as Trousseau syndrome and is distinct from the Trousseau sign of latent tetany.-History:...

).
.

Diagnosis

The health care provider makes the diagnosis primarily based on the appearance of the affected area. Frequent checks of the pulse

Pulse

In medicine, one's pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck , at the wrist , behind the knee , on the inside of the elbow , and near the...

, blood pressure

Blood pressure

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...

, temperature

Temperature

Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...

, skin

Skin

-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...

 condition, and circulation

Circulatory system

The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients , gases, hormones, blood cells, etc...

 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

Prevention

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

For more specific recommendations, see the particular condition. In general, treatment may include the following:

• Medications
  • analgesics (pain
    Pain
    Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
    
     medications)
  • anticoagulants e.g. warfarin or heparin to prevent new clot formation
  • thrombolytics
    Thrombolysis
    Thrombolysis is the breakdown of blood clots by pharmacological means. It is colloquially referred to as clot busting for this reason...
    
     to dissolve an existing clot such as intravenous streptokinase.
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen
    Ibuprofen
    Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for relief of symptoms of arthritis, fever, as an analgesic , especially where there is an inflammatory component, and dysmenorrhea....
    
     to reduce pain and inflammation
  • antibiotic
    Antibiotic
    An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
    
    s (if infection
    Infection
    An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
    
     is present) selection will usually depend with the causative agent.
  • 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.
• Apply moist heat to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Surgical
  Surgery
  Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
  
   removal, stripping, or bypass of the vein is rarely needed but may be recommended in some situations.

Prognosis

Thrombophlebitis and other forms of phlebitis usually respond to prompt medical treatment.

Complications

Complications are rare, but when they occur they can be serious. The most serious complication occurs when the blood clot dislodges, traveling through the heart and occluding the dense capillary network of the lungs; this is a pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...

which can be potentially life threatening.