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Superficial Thrombophlebitis

Jarrett Keller Sell, MD FAAFP AAHIVS and Jared Roberts Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Superficial thrombophlebitis is venous inflammation with secondary thrombosis of a superficial vein.

  • Most common in the lower extremities (60–80%), but can occur in the upper extremit...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Pain along the course of a vein 

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Swelling, tenderness, redness along the course of a vein or veins

  • May have a palpable cord along the course of the vein

  • Fever in 70% of pati...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Suppurative: consultation for urgent surgical venous excision

  • Local, mild (1)[C]

    • Conservative management, antibiotics not useful

    • For varicosities

      • Compression stockings; maintain...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Septic: routine WBC count and differential. Target treatment based on culture results.

  • Severe aseptic

    • Repeat venous Doppler US in 1 to 2 weeks to ...

REFERENCES

1
Nasr  H, Scriven  JM. Superficial thrombophlebitis (superficial venous thrombosis). BMJ.  2015; 350: h2039.  [View Abstract]
2
Di Nisio M, Wi...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Decousus  H, Quéré  I, Presles  E, et al; for the POST (Prospective Observational Superficial Thrombophlebitis) Study Group. Superficial venous thrombosis...

SEE ALSO

Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis 

CODES

ICD10

  • I80.9 Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of unspecified site

  • I80.00 Phlbts and thombophlb of superfic vessels of unsp low extrm

  • I80.8 Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of other sites

  • D68.59 Other pri...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Mild superficial thrombophlebitis is typically self-limiting and responds well to conservative care.

  • Lower extremity disease involving large veins or proximal saphenous vein likely bene...

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