Thrombophlebitis is what? Causes, prevention of thrombophlebitis. Thrombophlebitis of the veins of lower extremities

Among all the vascular diseases specialists singulate one that is not easily treatable, and its consequences are unpredictable. This is thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. This is the name of the inflammatory process of the venous walls, which entails the formation of a thrombus in the venous lumen. The disease mainly develops in the vessels of the legs. In this article, we will talk in more detail about this disease, its causes and the main methods of treatment.

Description of the disease

Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory process that develops in the walls of the veins and is often accompanied by the formation of thrombi. As a rule, the disease develops in elderly people, but recently the disease is diagnosed more and more often among young people. The main danger of pathology is the formation of a thrombus. This is a relatively small clot of blood, which at absolutely any time can come off. If this happens, the chance of blockage of certain veins and arteries increases several times, which often results in a fatal outcome.

Classification

Depending on the localization of the inflammatory process, there are:

• Thrombophlebitis of the upper extremities.
• The defeat of internal organs.
• Thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities.

The last variant of the disease is recognized as the most common type of pathology. By the nature of the lesion, acute and chronic forms of this disease are isolated.

In addition, this pathology can affect not only deep / superficial veins, but also arteries.

Main reasons

Various factors influence the development of this disease. In some cases, doctors find it difficult to identify the exact causes of this pathological process. For example, a decrease in immune defense and a weakened state of the body as a whole can cause such an unpleasant disease. However, the most common cause is varicose veins, as well as the so-called chronic venous insufficiency. Gradual changes in the structure of the walls of blood vessels, disruption of normal blood flow - all these factors entail inflammation of the veins and formation of thrombi.

There are also other causes of thrombophlebitis:

• Mechanical injuries of the lower extremities.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Admission of hormonal drugs.
• Bad habits.
• Oncology.
• Increased coagulability of blood.
• Allergy.
• Gynecological operations.

Who is at risk?

Are allocated certain categories of people, which doctors rank as a so-called risk group. At them the probability of occurrence of a thrombophlebitis of the bottom finitenesses is highest. These include the following:

• People leading a low-activity lifestyle.
• Suffering from varicose dilatation.
• All those who have relatively recently undergone surgical intervention and are forced for some time to comply with bed rest.
• Women who are in an "interesting" position.
• Patients with excessive body weight.
• People of advanced age.

Symptoms

What signs indicate thrombophlebitis? This disease begins with severe pain in the legs. Its intensity can vary, but in any case it increases with walking. Patients also often note the soreness of the skin when touching the veins.

It can be seen that in the affected area the skin changed its hue to red. After a while, the color turns blue and then brown. The temperature of this area is slightly higher than in healthy areas.

Skin over the veins in which blood clots form, is markedly thickened. Very often patients notice an increase in body temperature, but just a week later it comes back to normal. There is a small swelling of the foot. It is at this stage in the development of the disease that patients seek help from a doctor.

Thrombophlebitis and varicose veins

One of the most common forms of the disease is the so-called varicose thrombophlebitis. It is accompanied by severe pain and characteristic reddening of the skin. In this case, a vein with a thrombus surrounds a pronounced edema. The main symptom of this form of the disease is severe painful discomfort during movement, and also at any touch to the affected area. In some patients, the temperature rises and the general condition worsens, which resembles the signs of the most common cold. Treatment in this case involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal ointments.

Thrombophlebitis in future parturient women

Pregnancy is a period in a woman's life when she has to face serious illnesses, one of which is thrombophlebitis. The illness is explained by an increase in intrauterine pressure and physiological changes in blood composition. The peak risk of superficial thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities is presented in the first days after childbirth, as they provoke serious overloads in the work of the vascular system itself. As a consequence, natural blood flow is disturbed and thrombi are formed.

The first precursors of the disease may appear in the second trimester, when the body weight of the future parturient begins to increase actively. First, the appearance of so-called vascular asterisks is noted, then the veins on the legs are enlarged , and painful discomfort arises. In the evening, legs swell more often, and even convulsions may appear. All of the above symptoms should be the reason for contacting a phlebologist. The specialist after a full diagnostic examination can give recommendations on preventing the transformation of the disease into more severe forms.

Acute thrombophlebitis

Symptoms of the disease most clearly manifested in acute form of thrombophlebitis. Initially, patients note the appearance of pain along the whole direction of the blood flow of the affected vein. Then there is a marked change in skin color in this area. Against the background of an increase in body temperature, the leg becomes cold. At the first signs of an acute variant of the disease it is recommended to call the doctor immediately. Before his arrival, you should stay in bed and do not resort to independent treatment (rubbing ointments, taking painkillers). The thing is that such an approach can provoke the detachment of the smallest fragment of a thrombus and its introduction into other systems of internal organs.

What is dangerous acute thrombophlebitis? This disease very quickly passes into a complicated form (white / blue phlegmase). As a rule, it is accompanied by growing pain. Skin covers first turn pale, then acquire a purple hue. That's why it's so important not to delay with getting qualified help.

Chronic variant of the disease

Chronic thrombophlebitis is a pathology that does not have obvious clinical manifestations. The pain in this case is periodic, most often occur after exercise (sports, walking, etc.). At rest they almost do not remind themselves. That is why patients with a chronic variant of the disease do not rush to seek medical help from a doctor.

Diagnostics

The disease "thrombophlebitis", as a rule, does not cause special difficulties in diagnosis. Today the following instrumental methods of research are used:

• Ultrasonic dopplerography using color contrast. This study allows you to fully assess the condition of the veins, determine the presence of thrombotic masses and the true extent of the disease.
• Rheovasography.

To laboratory methods of diagnostics resort very rarely, since a routine blood test can confirm only moderately expressed signs of the inflammatory process.

What should be the therapy?

The main treatment should be directed to the elimination of inflammatory and thrombotic processes. Thrombophlebitis of superficial veins of the lower limbs in the early stages of development requires the use of a special bandage of elastic bandages. As the symptoms subscribe, you can go to a special medical jersey (compression underwear).

With regard to drug treatment, the most effective in the fight against this disease are the following means:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Ketoprofen). They reduce the inflammatory process, and also have an analgesic effect. These drugs are available in the form of gels and rectal suppositories.
• Derived routine ("Troxerutin", "Rutozid", "Troxevasin"). These agents not only relieve inflammation, but also protect the walls of blood vessels.
• Enzymes ("Wobenzym", "Phlogenzyme"). These drugs are responsible for reducing swelling, stimulating the dissolution of blood clots.
• Disaggregants ("Trental", "Reopoliglyukin").

Special attention requires internal thrombophlebitis during pregnancy. As you know, it is not recommended to give birth to medicines for pregnant women. To avoid drug exposure, doctors strongly recommend the use of special compression underwear. At the same time, the swelling of the legs is significantly reduced, fatigue disappears, seizures disappear. In addition, it is important to walk and do special exercises responsible for improving venous outflow.

Surgery

How else can thrombophlebitis be eliminated? The operation is prescribed only if the disease is an ascending form, when there is a threat of a pathology transition to deep veins. Such patients are recommended first of all for hospitalization, they undergo ultrasound examination of the affected area, and then an operation is prescribed. Surgical treatment in this case involves dressing the affected subcutaneous veins and removing all available varicose dilated areas.

Possible complications

The most dangerous complication of the disease occurs if the thrombus itself is loosely attached to the vascular wall, and its upper part "floats" in the lumen of the vein. At some point, its fragment can come off and, together with the blood, penetrate into the heart and provoke embolism (blockage of the pulmonary artery). Depending on the attendant circumstances, this complication can lead to death, shock, heart attack or heart failure.

No less dangerous complication is sepsis. Infection of the blood also often ends in a fatal outcome.

If the patient does not pay attention to the disease or prefers to use the methods of traditional medicine, the inflammatory process can move to surrounding tissues. In this kind of situation it is already an abscess or phlegmon of tissues.

How to prevent the development of the disease?

Prevention of thrombophlebitis primarily involves timely and competent treatment of the pathology of the veins. Here, first of all, we are talking about the early stages of varicose veins. It is also important to eliminate all foci of infections in the body (caries, purulent processes, sinusitis, tonsillitis).

Active lifestyle, rational nutrition, complete rejection of bad habits - all these factors are a direct component of the prevention of thrombophlebitis.

If the patient has already had to deal with the disease, every effort should be made to prevent his recurrence. In the standard treatment complex, in addition to the main drug therapy, it is important to include physiotherapeutic measures.

Conclusion

In this article, we described what constitutes thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins of the lower extremities, what are the main causes of its development and the accompanying symptoms. Do not leave this disease without attention, because so increases the risk of serious enough complications. An exceptionally qualified approach to treatment makes it possible to completely overcome this pathology.

We hope that all the information presented here will be really useful for you. Be healthy!