Thrombophlebitis is swelling (inflammation) of a vein caused by a blood clot.
Alternative Names:
Phlebitis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Sitting for a long period of time (such as on a long airplane trip) increases a person's risk of thrombophlebitis.
Disorders that increase a person's chance for blood clots also lead to thrombophlebitis. The two main types of thrombophlebitis are superficial thrombophlebitis (affects veins near the skin surface) and deep venous thrombosis (affects deeper, larger veins).
Symptoms:
The following symptoms are often associated with thrombophlebitis:
Inflammation (swelling) in the part of the body affected
Signs and tests:
The health care provider makes the diagnosis primarily based on how the affected area looks. The patient may need to have pulse, blood pressure, temperature, skin condition, and circulation frequently checked to monitor for complications.
If the cause is not easily identifiable, one or more of the following tests may be performed to determine the cause:
Review Date: 5/24/2006
Reviewed By: Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Venous Disease
