THROMBOPHLEBITIS Thrombophlebitis is swelling (inflammation) of a vein caused by a blood clot.

Chances for thrombophlebitis are increased with:

Being hospitalized for a major surgery or with a major illness Disorders that make you more likely to develop blood clots Sitting for a long period of time (such as on a long airplane trip)

There are two main types of thrombophlebitis:

Deep venous thrombosis (affects deeper, larger veins) Superficial thrombophlebitis (affects veins near the skin surface) (MY PT)

Symptoms that are often associated with thrombophlebitis:

Inflammation (swelling) in the part of the body affected Pain in the part of the body affected Skin redness (not always present) Warmth and tenderness over the vein

The health care provider can usually diagnose the condition based on how the affected area looks. Patients may need to have their pulse, blood pressure, temperature, skin condition, and circulation frequently checked to make sure they don't have complications. If the cause cannot be easily identified, one or more of the following tests may be done:

Blood coagulation studies Doppler ultrasound Venography

Treatment may include support stockings and wraps to reduce discomfort as well as medications such as:

Analgesics (pain killers) Antibiotics (if infection is present) Anticoagulants (blood thinners) to prevent new clots from forming Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation Thrombolytics to dissolve an existing clot

Patients may also be told to do the following:

Keep pressure off of the area to reduce pain and decrease the risk of further damage Raise the affected area to reduce swelling

Surgical removal, stripping, or bypass of the vein is rarely needed but may be recommended in some situations.