Is Phlebitis Dangerous and Life-threatening? “Is Phlebitis Dangerous and Life-threatening''
It's a question I get asked a lot. I will explain why Yes, phlebitis can be dangerous
and life-threatening. I will also cover what it is, what causes it, what it looks like,
what you should do if you think you have phlebitis. My name is Dr Haroun Gajraj Director of The
VeinCare Centre, helping you find freedom from unsightly and uncomfortable veins as
well as veins causing health problems. If you are new here, make sure you click that
subscribe button and all the links in the video description box below.
So let’s get started. And stay to the end, where I will share with you the 5 things you
should know if you think you have phlebitis. varicose eczema.
Phlebitis is an inflammation of a vein. The vein is hot, red and lumpy. The lump is tubular
in shape and it is tender to touch, it may throb and walking may be painful. The cause
of phlebitis in the leg is most often a clot in the vein just under the skin. The clot
may disperse and the phlebitis then gets better, but sometimes phlebitis is serious and the
condition may become dangerous. When specifically talking about phlebitis
in the leg veins, there are certain risk factors that increase the chances of a blood clot
forming: Obesity
Smoking Pregnancy
Immobility for long periods Varicose veins
Some oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Certain medical conditions (cancer, blood disorders)
In the case of leg vein phlebitis, you may not have any symptoms but if you do, they
generally tend to be pain, sensitivity, redness and bulging of the vein. As you can see in
this photograph of phlebitis, the skin over the vein is often discoloured but sometimes
there may be nothing to see, particularly if the vein is a little deeper under the skin.
This patient had quite a lot of tenderness. An ultrasound scan confirmed that there was
clot in the vein and I prescribed blood thinning medication.
Phlebitis does not usually result in serious complications. However, if the clot in the
superficial vein is extensive and if it involves the area where the superficial vein and a
deep vein come together that is near the groin or behind the knee, a DVT can develop.
Sometimes people are unaware that they have a DVT until they experience a life-threatening
complication. The most common and serious complication of DVT is a PE. A PE occurs when
a piece of the blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, where it blocks blood flow.
Symptoms of a PE include: unexplained shortness of breath
chest pain coughing up blood
pain with deep breathing rapid breathing
feeling lightheaded or passing out fast heart rate
If you think you have phlebitis, you should see your GP and request a scan. If the area
of redness, lumpiness or tenderness is getting bigger, if it is near your groin or at the
back of your knee, then the phlebitis may be near a deep vein. You may be at high risk
of a DVT. Request a scan and insist that is done urgently.
Now at the beginning I said that I would tell you the 5 things you must know about phlebitis
and here they are. Phlebitis is not caused by an infection and
antibiotics are not necessary. Phlebitis
most commonly affects the leg veins and it causes swelling, tenderness and redness along
the vein. Less common sites include the arm and the chest.
The diagnosis requires a duplex ultrasound scan. Conditions such as cellulitis can mimic
phlebitis so confirming the correct diagnosis with a duplex ultrasound scan is essential
and it ensures you get the right treatment. The fundamental problem causing the inflammation
in the vein is clot formation which can spread to the deep veins causing a deep vein thrombosis
and pulmonary embolism. Many experts suggest that the term phlebitis should be replaced
by the term superficial venous thrombosis. This term more accurately describes the potential
for DVT. The duplex ultrasound scan should not only
check the area that is painful, but both legs should be examined for a possible deep vein
thrombosis. When someone has phlebitis, they can be in a so-called hypercoagulable state
in which the blood is sticky. That means that clots can develop elsewhere in the body, including
in the deep veins of the other leg as well. Thank you for staying to the end. In the description
below, you find a link to my blog on this subject with even more information. I look
forward to seeing you in my next video.