Phlebitis

Phlebitis
Veins in the popliteal area
Classification and external resources
Specialty	Emergency medicine
ICD-10	I80
ICD-9-CM	451
DiseasesDB	13043
eMedicine	emerg/581 emerg/582 med/3201
MeSH	D010689
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Phlebitis or venitis is the 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.

Phlebitis is typically caused by local trauma to a vein, usually from the insertion of an intravenous catheter. However, it can also occur due to a complication of connective tissue disorders such as lupus, or of pancreatic, breast, or ovarian cancers. Phlebitis can also result from 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.

Treatment usually consists of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and local compression (e.g., by or a compress). If the phlebitis is associated with local bacterial infection, antibiotics may be used.

For acute infusion superficial thrombophlebitis, not enough evidence exists as of 2015 to determine treatment.

Phlebitis was first described by the Scottish surgeon John Hunter in 1784.

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