Superficial Thrombophlebitis, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

This book describes Superficial Thrombophlebitis, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
Thrombophlebitis is an inflamed distended vein due to a blood clot.
Superficial indicates that the veins are just below the skin's surface.
Superficial thrombophlebitis happens when a superficial vein (normally the long saphenous vein of the leg or its tributaries) becomes inflamed and the blood inside it clots.
It may be spontaneous or linked with one or more risk factors - e.g., varicose veins.
It is normally a benign self-limiting disease but it can be complicated to treat and slow to resolve
Causes
This disorder may happen after damage to the vein.
Or it may happen following the giving the medicines given into the veins
The three cardinal risk factors (Virchow's triad) are:
1. Injury to the blood vessel wall (as a result of trauma, infection, or inflammation).
2. Stasis of blood flow.
3. Hyper-coagulability of blood.
Other specific risk factors are:
1. Obesity.
2. Thrombophilia.
3. Smoking.
4. Oral contraceptives.
5. Pregnancy
6. Intravenous drug abuse.
Symptoms
There are numerous different manifestations of superficial thrombophlebitis:
1. Superficial thrombophlebitis normally happens in the lower limbs (greater saphenous vein) but happens also in the penis and the breast (Mondor's disease).
2. Traumatic thrombophlebitis accompanies an injury or during intravenous injection
There is a tender hard cord along the course of a injured or varicose vein and bruising
A small lump may appear days or weeks after the injection needle has been removed and it can take months to resolve completely
There is:
1. Skin redness, tenderness, or pain along a vein just below the skin, and inflammation,
2. Warmth of the area
3. Limb pain
4. Hardening of the vein
Diagnosis
The doctor will diagnose this disorder based mainly on the appearance of the involved vein.
Ultrasound of the blood vessels helps substantiate the disorder.
If there are signs of an infection, skin or blood cultures may be done.
Treatment

General measures
Elastic support of the limb decreases swelling and relieves discomfort.
The affected extremity should be raised if possible and large, warm compresses may be applied, even though the evidence for their success is limited and care must be taken to prevent burning the patient
Exercise decreases pain and the probability of DVT.
Only in patients in whom pain is very severe is bed rest required.
Pharmacological

The topical analgesia with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams used locally to the superficial vein thrombosis/superficial thrombophlebitis area stops symptoms.
Hirudoid cream (heparinoid) reduces the duration of signs/symptoms
An intermediate dose of low molecular weight heparin for at least a month might be advised
Fondaparinux at a dose of 2.5 mg once a day for 45 days has been documented to lower the danger of pulmonary embolism (PE) or DVT by 85%.
Antibiotics are only needed if there is presence of infection
Surgical
If there are repeat occurrences of the thrombophlebitis linked with extensive varicose veins, they should be excised and ligated
There is a need for surgical resection (phlebectomy), stripping or sclerotherapy of the affected vein.
These treat large varicose veins.
A painful segment of a superficial vein containing a palpable intravascular blood clot may be treated by puncture incision with an 18-gauge needle and evacuation of the clot under local anesthesia.
With septic disorder, appropriate antibiotics should be given.
If suppurative thrombophlebitis is indicated, immediate and complete excision of all of the affected veins is indicated.
The wound may be left open for drainage of pus.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Superficial Thrombophlebitis
Chapter 2 Causes

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Aug 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463370674

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Superficial Thrombophlebitis,

A

Simple

Guide

To

The Condition,

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2018 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes Superficial Thrombophlebitis, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

(What The patient Need to Treat Superficial Thrombophlebitis)

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog: http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog: http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiolographical account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Superficial thrombophlebitis

What is Superficial thrombophlebitis?

Thrombophlebitis is an inflamed distended vein due to a blood clot.

Superficial indicates that the veins are just below the skin's surface.

Superficial thrombophlebitis happens when a superficial vein (normally the long saphenous vein of the leg or its tributaries) becomes inflamed and the blood inside it clots.

It may be spontaneous or linked with one or more risk factors - e.g., varicose veins.

It is normally a benign self-limiting disease but it can be complicated to treat and slow to resolve.

Incidence

This is a very frequent disorder and, while figures are hard to find, it seems to be more frequent in those aged over 60.

It has a female prevalence and seasonal distinction (more frequent in warmer months) has also been documented

What are