Thrombophlebitis is characterized by inflammation in the venous wall with the formation of a thrombus in the lumen.
This process can be a complication of certain infectious diseases (flu, typhoid fever, and typhus, dysentery), abortion and childbirth, purulent inflammatory processes and can occur in any part of the body.
One of the common types of inflammation is deep vein thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. Changes cause reflex spasm in the adjacent arteries and lymphatic vessels . In this case, outflow of lymph, arterial and venous blood flow is disturbed.
The formation of a blood clot in a vein can occur due to its varicose expansion, compression by a tumor, damage or trauma. After a puncture, with a sufficiently long presence in her lumen of a cannula or needle during infusions, her wall can also become inflamed.
Thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the lower extremities can manifest itself in a chronic, subacute and acute form. In this case, the lesion also applies to superficial vessels.
Subacute thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the lower extremities occurs suddenly, accompanied by pain in the limb, fever (up to 39º), and also chills. Touching the affected area is also very painful. After the first day, severe swelling is observed. The skin of the affected limb acquires a pale tense look, it becomes colder, glossy. The lymph nodes of the inguinal region significantly increase and become painful.
Acute thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the lower extremities also occurs with a sudden manifestation of pain. In this case, moderate development of edema of the limb is observed. The skin on it becomes cyanotic. Localization of the process most often occurs in the large saphenous veins, which are palpated by a dense, painful cord with swollen and reddened skin. The body temperature at the first manifestations of the disease is of the order of 38º, in the course of its course it decreases to normal values.
In severe manifestation, deep vein thrombophlebitis is today attributed to chronic failure in the veins of the legs. In this case, the outflow of blood is disturbed. The transferred acute thrombophlebitis and subsequent formation of channels in the thrombus (recanalization) causes the destruction of the valves of the veins of the deep and connecting the surface and deep system. The disease is accompanied by swelling and dull pain in the legs, trophic changes in the skin of the lower leg in its lower third. In some cases, the formation of varicose ulcers is observed.
Treatment of deep vein thrombophlebitis should be carried out comprehensively in accordance with a specific form of the disease.
With the disease in acute form, rest is indicated. In this case, the affected limb should be fixed in an elevated position, which helps to reduce swelling and pain and improve blood outflow. At the same time, it should be noted that prolonged dormancy can cause the spread of thrombosis in the deep vein region. Therefore, patients from the fourth to fifth day are allowed a small functional load. He can move his foot and fingers. On the sixth to seventh day in the absence of acute symptoms, the patient is allowed to take a sitting position. On the eighth to ninth day, an elastic bandage is fixed on the affected limb, and the patient is allowed to walk. At the same time, thermal procedures on a diseased limb are contraindicated.
On the first day, the patient is prescribed antibiotics, anesthetizing, reducing coagulability, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs.
Surgical intervention (excision of the affected area) is prescribed for the manifestation of purulent fusion of the vein and abscesses.