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Thrombophlebitis

Thrombophlebitis is a condition that causes a blood clot to form and block one or more veins, often in the legs. In superficial thrombophlebitis, the vein is near the surface of the skin. In deep vein thrombosis or DVT, the vein is deep within a muscle. DVT increases the risk of serious health problems. Both types of thrombophlebitis can be treated with blood-thinning medications.

Thrombophlebitis (throm-boe-fluh-BY-tis) is an inflammatory process that causes a blood clot to form and block one or more veins, usually in the legs. The affected vein might be near the surface of the skin (superficial thrombophlebitis) or deep within a muscle (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT).

Symptoms of superficial thrombophlebitis include warmth, tenderness, and pain. You might have redness and swelling and see a red, hard cord just under the surface of your skin that’s tender to the touch. Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include swelling, tenderness, and pain in your leg.

Superficial thrombophlebitis signs and symptoms include:

  • Warmth, tenderness and pain in the affected area
  • Redness and swelling

Deep vein thrombosis signs and symptoms include:

  • Pain
  • Swelling

When a vein close to the surface of the skin is affected, you might see a red, hard cord just under the surface of the skin that’s tender to the touch. When a deep vein in the leg is affected, the leg may become swollen, tender and painful.

See your doctor right away if you have a red, swollen or tender vein — especially if you have one or more risk factors for thrombophlebitis.

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)

Have someone take you to your doctor or emergency room, if possible. It might be difficult for you to drive, and it’s helpful to have someone with you to help you remember the information you receive.

Thrombophlebitis is caused by a blood clot. A blood clot can form because of an injury to a vein or from having an inherited disorder that affects how your blood clots. You may also get a blood clot after not being active for long periods of time, like during a hospital stay or recovery from an injury.

The cause of thrombophlebitis is a blood clot, which can form in your blood as a result of:

  • An injury to a vein
  • An inherited blood-clotting disorder.
  • Being immobile for long periods, such as during an injury or a hospital stay.

Your risk of thrombophlebitis is higher if you’re not active for a long period or you have a catheter in a central vein to treat a condition. Having varicose veins or a pacemaker can also increase your risk. Women who are pregnant, have just given birth, or take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy may also be at higher risk. Other risk factors include a family history of a blood-clotting disorder, a tendency to form blood clots, and having thrombophlebitis before. Your risk may also be higher if you’ve had a stroke, you’re over age 60, or you’re overweight. Having cancer and smoking are also risk factors.

Your risk of thrombophlebitis might increase if you:

  • Are inactive for a prolonged period, either because you’re confined to bed or you’re traveling in a car or plane for a long period.
  • Have varicose veins, which are a common cause of superficial thrombophlebitis.
  • Have a pacemaker or have a thin, flexible tube (catheter) in a central vein, for treatment of a medical condition, which may irritate the blood vessel wall and decrease blood flow.
  • Are pregnant or have just given birth.
  • Use birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, which can make your blood more likely to clot.
  • Have a family history of a blood-clotting disorder or a tendency to form blood clots.
  • Have had previous episodes of thrombophlebitis.
  • Have had a stroke.
  • Are older than 60.
  • Are overweight or obese.
  • Have cancer.
  • Smoke.

If you have one or more risk factors, discuss prevention strategies with your doctor before taking long flights or road trips or if you’re planning to have elective surgery, recovery from which will require you not to move much.

Complications from superficial thrombophlebitis are rare. However, if you develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the risk of serious complications increases. Complications might include:

  • Blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism). If part of a deep vein clot becomes dislodged, it can travel to your lungs, where it can block an artery (embolism) and become potentially life-threatening.
  • Lasting leg pain and swelling (post-phlebetic syndrome). This condition, also known as post-thrombotic syndrome, can develop months or years after you’ve had DVT. The pain can be disabling.

Sitting during a long flight or car ride can cause your ankles and calves to swell and increases your risk of thrombophlebitis. To help prevent a blood clot:

  • Take a walk. If you’re flying or riding a train or bus, walk up and down the aisle once an hour or so. If you’re driving, stop every hour or so and move around.
  • Move your legs regularly. Flex your ankles, or carefully press your feet against the floor or footrest in front of you at least 10 times each hour.
  • Drink plenty of water or other nonalcoholic fluids to avoid dehydration.

To diagnose thrombophlebitis, a doctor might ask you about your discomfort and look for affected veins near your skin’s surface. You might have an imaging test, like an ultrasound, to check your leg for superficial or deep vein thrombosis. A blood test can show if you have a high level of a substance that dissolves clots. This test can also rule out DVT and show if you’re at risk of having thrombophlebitis repeatedly.

To diagnose thrombophlebitis, your doctor will ask you about your discomfort and look for affected veins near your skin’s surface. To determine whether you have superficial thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis, your doctor might choose one of these tests:

  • Ultrasound. A wandlike device (transducer) moved over the affected area of your leg sends sound waves into your leg. As the sound waves travel through your leg tissue and reflect back, a computer transforms the waves into a moving image on a video screen.

    This test can confirm the diagnosis and distinguish between superficial and deep vein thrombosis.

  • Blood test. Almost everyone with a blood clot has an elevated blood level of a naturally occurring, clot-dissolving substance called D dimer. But D dimer levels can be elevated in other conditions. So a test for D dimer isn’t conclusive, but can indicate the need for further testing.

    It’s also useful for ruling out deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and for identifying people at risk of developing thrombophlebitis repeatedly.

Superficial thrombophlebitis can be treated by applying heat to the painful area and elevating your leg. You may also take drugs to relieve swelling and irritation and wear compression stockings. From there, it usually improves on its own. For superficial and deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, you might take medications that thin the blood and dissolve clots. You may wear compression stockings that are available by prescription to prevent swelling and prevent complications of DVT. If you can’t take blood thinners, a filter can be placed into the main vein in your abdomen to keep clots from lodging in your lungs. Sometimes varicose veins are removed with surgery.

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.

  • Blood-thinning medications. If you have deep vein thrombosis, injection of a blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medication, such as low molecular weight heparin, fondaparinux (Arixtra) or apixaban (Eliquis), can help prevent clots from growing bigger. After the first treatment, you’ll likely be told to take warfarin (Jantoven) or rivaroxaban (Xarelto) for several months to keep preventing clot growth. Blood thinners can cause excessive bleeding. Always follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.
  • Clot-dissolving medications. Treatment with a clot-dissolving drug is called thrombolysis. The medication alteplase (Activase) is used to dissolve blood clots in people with extensive DVT, including those who have a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
  • Compression stockings. Prescription-strength compression stockings help prevent swelling and reduce the chances of complications of DVT.
  • Vena cava filter. If you can’t take blood thinners, a filter may be inserted into the main vein in your abdomen (vena cava) to prevent clots that break loose in leg veins from lodging in your lungs. Usually, the filter is removed when it’s no longer needed.
  • Varicose vein stripping. A surgeon can remove varicose veins that cause pain or recurrent thrombophlebitis. The procedure involves removing a long vein through small incisions. Removing the vein won’t affect blood flow in your leg because veins deeper in the leg take care of the increased volumes of blood.

In addition to medical treatments, self-care measures can help improve thrombophlebitis.

If you have superficial thrombophlebitis:

  • Use a warm washcloth to apply heat to the involved area several times daily.
  • Keep your leg raised when sitting or lying down.
  • Use a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), if recommended by your doctor.

Let your doctor know if you’re taking another blood thinner, such as aspirin.

If you have deep vein thrombosis:

  • Take prescription blood-thinning medications as directed to prevent complications.
  • Keep your leg raised when sitting or lying down if it’s swollen.
  • Wear your prescription-strength compression stockings as directed.

If you have time before your appointment, here’s some information to help you get ready.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment
  • Key personal information, including a family history of blood-clotting disorders or long periods of inactivity recently, such as a car or plane trip
  • All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take
  • Questions to ask your doctor

For thrombophlebitis, basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is likely causing my condition?
  • What are other possible causes?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What treatments are available and which do you recommend?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
  • Are there dietary or activity restrictions I need to follow?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • Do you have symptoms all the time, or do they come and go?
  • How severe are your symptoms?
  • Have you had an injury or surgery within the past three months?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve or worsen your symptoms?
  1. Papadakis MA, et al., eds. Thrombophlebitis, superficial venous. In: Quick Medical Diagnosis & Treatment. McGraw Hill; 2021. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Sept. 11, 2021.
  2. Papadakis MA, et al., eds. Superficial venous thrombophlebitis. In: Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2022. 61st ed. McGraw Hill; 2022. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Sept. 11, 2021.
  3. Knoop KJ, et al., eds. Thrombophlebitis. In: The Atlas of Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. McGraw Hill; 2021. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Sept. 11, 2021.
  4. Scovell S. Superficial vein thrombosis and phlebitis of the lower extremity veins. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Sept. 11, 2021.
  5. Brunicardi FC, et al., eds. Venous and lymphatic disease. In: Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery. 11th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2019. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Nov. 14, 2019.
  6. Lip GY, et al. Overview of the treatment of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Sept. 11, 2021.
  7. What is venous thromboembolism? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/facts.html. Accessed Sept. 11, 2021.

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