Superficial thrombophlebitis is inflammation in a vein where a blood clot has formed close to the surface of the skin. You may be able to feel the clot as a firm lump under the skin.
Will it Bruise? You may get a bruise or a small lump after having blood taken. This will usually settle by itself and fade away in time.
Superficial thrombophlebitis is usually a benign and short-term condition. Symptoms generally subside in 1 to 2 weeks, but hardness of the vein may remain for much longer.
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have: throbbing or cramping pain in your leg, arm or neck. sudden swelling in your leg, arm or neck. warm skin around the painful area.
Call 911 or your local emergency number if: The vein swelling and pain are severe. You also have shortness of breath or chest pain, are coughing up blood, or have other symptoms that may indicate a blood clot traveling to your lungs (pulmonary embolism)
The condition can cause various symptoms, including pain, swelling, tenderness, warmth, and inflammation. While the condition usually doesn't have serious complications, you can develop cellulitis or deep vein thrombosis if left untreated. You should contact a vein specialist at the first sign of symptoms.
Blood clots in veins close to the skin's surface usually are not serious and often can be treated at home. Sometimes superficial thrombophlebitis spreads to a deeper vein (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). These deeper clots can be serious, even life-threatening.
While a DVT can travel through the bloodstream to the heart, lungs, or brain and cause a stroke or Pulmonary Embolism, superficial thrombophlebitis usually will not do this, although it can be painful.
Anticoagulation with fondaparinux 2.5 mg/day should be considered in patients with superficial thrombophlebitis in the lower extremity that is at least 5 cm in length; SVT proximal to the knee, especially within 10 cm of the saphenofemoral junction; the presence of severe symptoms; greater saphenous vein involvement; ...
The phlebitis is an inflammation of a vein (usually at the level of the legs). Massage can dislodge a bloody clot lodged in the affected vein, which could then lodge itself elsewhere in the organism (lung, brains). In the event of phlebitis, no massage, even of the non affected zones must be made.
For superficial thrombophlebitis, your doctor might recommend applying heat to the painful area, elevating the affected leg, using an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and possibly wearing compression stockings. The condition usually improves on its own.
Avoid prolonged periods of standing and, if possible, elevate your legs when you sit. Regular exercise, especially walking, also can help to improve blood flow. To prevent thrombophlebitis from infection, avoid injecting illegal drugs into your veins.
A hematoma is a swollen area that is filled with blood. It may form at the puncture site after a blood draw. What can I expect? The blood in the hematoma will be absorbed by your body over the next few days.
Occasionally, bruising of the arm may develop. The bruise may look dramatic and some people can find this worrying, especially if it appears away from the donation area. Bruises are usually harmless and will disappear with time and it is normal for them to spread out before fading.
Superficial thrombophlebitis can occur after a blood draw or IV. It is also not unusual to get clots in a cluster of large varicose veins. In general, superficial thrombophlebitis is not dangerous, just painful until it resolves.
The condition is rarely serious and, with proper care, usually resolves rapidly. Sometimes people with superficial phlebitis also get deep vein thrombophlebitis, so a medical evaluation is necessary. Deep vein thrombophlebitis affects the larger blood vessels, usually deep in the legs.
Superficial thrombophlebitis is treated with elevation of the leg, anti-inflammatory medicines such as Motrin, mild pain relievers if needed and warm, moist soaks to the area either continuously or every 4-6 hours as needed.
Complications in superficial thrombophlebitis include the following: Extension into the deep venous system. Hyperpigmentation over the affected vein. Persistent, firm nodule in subcutaneous tissues at the site of the affected vein.
Patients with SVT of at least 5 cm and additional thromboembolic risk factors (see above) should be treated with prophylactic dosages of anticoagulants for a period of at least 45 days.
Intravenous injection or cannulation.
Having injections into the veins or 'drips' in hospital can also cause superficial thrombophlebitis. These are commonly given in hand or arm veins, can injure the vein and may trigger inflammation. Damage to the veins in this way is also common in people who inject 'street drugs'.
Simple phlebitis is often benign, but when it is progressive, it can cause serious complications, and even death. Suppurative superficial thrombophlebitis is a more serious condition that can lead to sepsis and death, even with appropriate aggressive intervention.
If you take adequate steps to recover, most blown veins should heal on their own. Again, this process usually takes about 10 to 12 days depending on individual factors.