Phlebitis

Clinic

• Phlebitis (or Venitis) is inflammation of a vein, usually in the legs.
• It most commonly occurs in superficial veins.
• Phlebitis often occurs in conjunction with thrombosis and is then called thrombophlebitis or superficial thrombophlebitis.
• Unlike deep vein thrombosis, the probability that superficial thrombophlebitis will cause a clot to break up and be transported in pieces to the lung is very low.

Signs / Symptoms

• Localized redness and swelling
• Pain or burning along the length of the vein
• Vein being hard and cord-like
• Tender red area along the superficial veins on the skin
• This area may feel hard, warm, and tender.
• The skin around the vein may be itchy and swollen.
• The area may begin to throb or burn.
• Symptoms may be worse when the leg is lowered, especially when first getting out of bed in the morning.
• A low-grade fever may occur.
• Sometimes phlebitis may occur where a peripheral intravenous line was started.
• The surrounding area may be sore and tender along the vein.

Cause

• Local trauma to a vein
• Connective tissue disorders such as lupus, or of pancreatic, breast, or ovarian cancers.
• Certain medications and drugs that irritate the veins, such as desomorphine.
• Superficial phlebitis often presents as an early sign in thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease), a vasculitis that affects small and medium-sized arteries and veins in distal extremities often associated with cigarette smoking.

Related disease

Varicose veins