superficial-thrombophlebitis

Health Factsheet

22

07 2011

Superficial Thrombophlebitis

 

 

Published by Bupa’s Health Information Team, May 2011
 

 

Superficial thrombophlebitis occurs if a superficial vein, a vein just under the skin, becomes inflamed and a clot forms in the vein. This isn't usually life-threatening and goes away on its own.

 

 
 
The circulatory system
The circulatory system controls the flow of blood around your body. Blood is pumped from your heart around your body through arteries. Once it has supplied oxygen and nutrients, blood returns to your heart through your veins. To do this, the blood in your veins must flow upwards, against gravity. The muscles in your legs help this upward blood flow. Each time your calf and thigh muscles contract when you're walking, veins deep inside your leg are squeezed. One-way valves help prevent blood from flowing back down your veins.
 
There are two main types of veins: superficial veins, just below the surface of your skin, and deep veins, found deep inside the body that carry the most blood. These two types of veins are connected by perforator veins. When blood doesn't flow properly from your superficial veins to your deep veins, pressure can build up in your superficial veins. This results in blood collecting (pooling) in your veins, these are called varicose veins.
 
What is superficial thrombophlebitis?
Superficial thrombophlebitis occurs when a superficial vein becomes inflamed and a blood clot forms within the vein. It usually occurs in varicose veins, commonly in the leg, but it can happen as a result of an injury to any vein, for example from having an injection into a vein in your arm.
 
Symptoms
If you have superficial thrombophlebitis you may have symptoms including:
  • an enlarged vein
 
The vein may be raised and lumpy for weeks. Sometimes your skin over the affected vein may change colour or a nodule may form in the area, which doesn't go away.
 
Complications
Generally superficial thrombophlebitis doesn't have any complications. Rarely, it can cause septic thrombophlebitis in the affected vein. Occasionally, this infection can develop to affect the rest of the body and become life-threatening. If the vein becomes infected your symptoms may get worse and any pain, tenderness, swelling, and redness may spread along the entire length of the infected vein. You may also get a fever – a temperature higher than 37.5°C.
 
Sometimes the blood clot can extend further up the vein. If the clot extends to where the superficial vein and the deep, larger veins join, a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can develop. If this happens your symptoms may get worse and:
 
 
If you have any of these symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.
 
Causes
Sometimes superficial thrombophlebitis can occur for no known reason. However, there are a number of factors that make you more likely to get superficial thrombophlebitis, such as:  
 
    • having cancer
 
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical history. He/she will usually be able to diagnose superficial thrombophlebitis just from examining you and asking about your symptoms. However, you may need to have tests to rule out DVT, which may include a D-dimer blood test. This measures a substance that develops when a blood clot breaks down. If this is negative it's unlikely that you have a DVT.
 
Treatment
Superficial thrombophlebitis usually goes away on its own. You may have symptoms, especially tenderness, for weeks or several months. However, there are a number of treatments to ease your symptoms.
 
Self-help treatments include:
 
 
Medicines
Painkillers may help to ease any pain you have. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are most often used to treat pain from superficial thrombophlebitis. As well as in tablet form, NSAIDs are available as creams or gels, such as ibuprofen gel. These are only suitable if your superficial thrombophlebitis is mild and only affects a small area of the vein. Paracetamol is an alternative if you can't take NSAIDs. Always read the patient information that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.
 
If your doctor thinks you have septic superficial thrombophlebitis from a bacterial infection, you may be given antibiotics such as flucloxacillin, erythromycin or clarithromycin. You will usually be given these medicines at your GP surgery, but you may need to go to hospital to have them intravenously (directly into a vein). Always ask your doctor for advice and read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
 
Non-surgical treatments
Your doctor may prescribe compression stockings for superficial thrombophlebitis to relieve any swelling and provide comfort.
 
Surgery
If you have varicose veins and you continue to have superficial thrombophlebitis symptoms or you have a large number of varicose veins, surgery may be an option to remove them. Ask your doctor for advice.
 
 
Common questions
 
I keep having thrombophlebitis in a varicose vein in my leg. What should I do?
 
You could consider having your varicose vein removed. Superficial thrombophlebitis is more likely to occur or come back if you have varicose veins. If the veins are removed you’re less likely to have superficial thrombophlebitis again.
 
There are a variety of treatments for varicose veins such as ligation and stripping surgery, foam or liquid sclerotherapy and laser ablation treatment. Removal doesn't prevent superficial thrombophlebitis occurring in other leg veins though.
 
I have a pain in my leg – could it be superficial thrombophlebitis?
There is a range of different causes of leg pain but it could be superficial thrombophlebitis. Leg pain can have many different causes. Superficial thrombophlebitis can sometimes be confused with other conditions, such as:
 
  • calf strain
 
You should go to your doctor if you have leg pain and are concerned about it.
 
How can I tell the difference between superficial thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Symptoms of DVT can sometimes appear similar to superficial thrombophlebitis, however, as DVT can be a serious condition, it’s important to see to your GP to get the right diagnosis. Superficial thrombosis will often get better on its own and isn't usually life-threatening. Deep vein thrombosis needs to be treated as it can be life-threatening. DVT can occur quickly and you may have swelling, pain or warmth in your calf. Yet often people don't have any symptoms. If you’re concerned you should contact your doctor.
 
If you have superficial thrombophlebitis you may have symptoms including:
 
  • an enlarged vein
 
Sometimes the blood clot can extend further up the vein. If the clot extends to where the superficial vein and the deep, larger veins join, a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can develop. If this happens your symptoms may get worse and:
 
 
If you have any of these symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.

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This information is published by Bupa's Health Information Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect any presentation of a condition. The content is intended only for general information and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.