Phlebitis, or thrombophlebitis, is the formation of a blood clot within a vein, which prevents blood flow, causing swelling, redness, and pain in the affected area. This is considered a medical emergency because it can lead to complications like deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, for example.
The blood clot usually forms in the legs and is very rare to form in other areas of the body such as the arms or neck. Most of the time, thrombophlebitis occurs when the person spends a lot of time sitting in the same position, as it can happen during a long trip, being more common in people with poor blood circulation.Learn more about the causes of thrombophlebitis.
- Thrombophlebitis is curable and treatment should be guided by the doctor.
- Depending on the severity of each situation.
- And rest.
- Elastic stockings.
- Compresses and anti-inflammatory drugs or.
- If necessary.
- Anticoagulants may be indicated.
Thrombophlebitis can occur in a superficial vein or in a deep vein, which can influence the type and intensity of symptoms.
Symptoms of superficial thrombophlebitis include
When identifying this situation, it is recommended that you go to the hospital for a Doppler ultrasound to check the extent of the disease, and then indicate treatment.
Symptoms of deep thrombophlebitis include:
Deep thrombophlebitis is considered an emergency, so identifying any of these symptoms is recommended to go to the hospital to start treatment as soon as possible, as there is a risk of the blood clot moving and causing deep or pulmonary venous thrombosis.Embolism.
Understand in more detail what deep vein thrombosis is and how to identify it.
Treatment of phlebitis should always be guided by the doctor and can be done with the administration of anticoagulants, massages with ice pebbles in the area, lifting legs with pillow and wearing elastic compression stockings, such as Kendall..
Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms and where the clot formed.Treatment options that may be listed include:
Surface thrombophlebitis
Treatment for superficial thrombophlebitis includes:
These exercises, as well as the raised limb position, promote venous return through gravitational drainage.
In addition, the use of blood thinners to help break the clot may also be indicated in the presence of large clots or when they cause severe symptoms.In some cases, surgery may be needed to bind the affected area and remove clots.
Treatment of deep thrombophlebitis
For the treatment of deep thrombophlebitis, your doctor may recommend the use of blood thinners such as heparin, warfarin, or rivaroxaban, for example, which reduce thrombus formation, preventing heart or lung complications.
After the start of treatment in the hospital, where the first examinations are carried out and the dose of medication is determined, the treatment can be continued at the patient’s home and can last from 3 to 6 months, depending on the severity that it presents. At home, your doctor may also recommend wearing compression stockings, which help prevent swelling and other complications.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove varicose veins.