Statistics say that thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities most often affects women. High heels, short skirts even in cold weather, taking hormonal contraceptives - all this can cause inflammatory processes in the venous walls of the legs.
Thrombophlebitis has serious consequences for the body, the most dangerous of which are pulmonary embolism and sepsis. What to pay attention to and how to prevent complications? Let's look at all the symptoms of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities and methods for diagnosing it, show a photo of it and talk about methods of treating the disease.
Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory disease of the venous walls caused by the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in the lumen of the vessel. The disease often begins with varicose veins. In 90% of people, thrombophlebitis affects the lower extremities . Both superficial vessels and deep veins are susceptible to inflammation. There are purulent and non-purulent forms of thrombophlebitis. The disease occurs in acute, subacute and chronic forms.
For the development of the disease, a combination of three factors is important:
Thrombophlebitis at the initial stage occurs unnoticed by humans . Many people consult a doctor when the disease becomes acute. Then the disease can take a person by surprise. It's helpful to know what to look for in advance. At first, the symptoms are mild, but be sure to consult a doctor if you notice signs of thrombophlebitis.
Damage to superficial veins at an early stage is characterized by:
Sometimes the body temperature rises slightly or the area of inflammation on the leg becomes hot.
If you ignore the first symptoms, the inflammation will spread, pain will increase, the nodules on the legs will become larger and more noticeable, and the temperature will rise.
Redness of the leg and swelling of the leg, swelling of the veins with thrombophlebitis are shown in this photo:
The main symptoms of thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the lower extremities:
The pain can be severe, especially in a sitting position, and subsides slightly when you lift your leg up. The severity and nature of symptoms when the deep veins of the leg are affected depend on the location of the clot formation and its size. When the veins of the leg are blocked, a person feels pain in the calf muscle, the leg swells, and the skin may turn blue . If you ignore the situation at this stage, in one or two days the entire surface of the legs will be covered with a network of swollen veins.
When the thrombus is localized in the common femoral vein, the patient feels acute pain in the entire leg, the limb swells and turns blue. The veins become very swollen, and the body temperature can rise to high levels .
What the advanced stage of deep vein thrombophlebitis in the legs looks like, look at the photo:
For more information about the disease and the differences in its forms, watch the video:
Delay in visiting a doctor if the deep veins of the legs are affected is dangerous. Due to the rapid increase in blood clot and blood flow speed, the clot can break off at any time and be transported with the blood to any vessel in the body. Blockage of large arteries poses a threat to the patient's life. If symptoms of thrombophlebitis appear, you should consult a phlebologist.
To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor will refer you for examination. The specialist will need to determine the degree of vascular damage and the location of the thrombus , since the treatment of deep and superficial thrombophlebitis is different.
Differential diagnosis is based on the general symptoms of the disease. Blockage of the superficial veins is distinguished from Winivarter-Buerger disease, nodular lymphangitis, and periarteritis. Doctors differentiate deep thrombophlebitis with thrombosis of arterial trunks, thromboembolism, and Raynaud's disease.
For correct diagnosis, specialists use the following methods :
Treatment of thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins of the lower extremities is carried out in a minimal amount. Sometimes it is possible to get by with diet, rest and traditional methods of treatment (ointments and decoctions). In mild cases, the inflammation goes away on its own and the doctor recommends taking preventive measures to prevent exacerbations in the future.
Conservative treatment includes:
Thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins does not pose a serious danger to the patient and goes away in 1–2 weeks without consequences . Surgical treatment is rarely used. Subject to consultation with the attending physician, traditional methods of treatment may be permitted.
The choice of treatment method depends on the diagnostic results, the severity of symptoms and the location of the blood clot. In severe cases, hospitalization is indicated to diagnose the exact condition of the patient and assess the degree of inflammation. Treatment can be conservative or surgical.
From the first day of treatment for acute thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the lower extremities, the patient needs bed rest and diet . The legs are placed higher for better blood flow. Limiting physical activity to prevent blood clot rupture. Conservative treatment is similar to therapy for lesions of superficial vessels.
In addition to the above, it is recommended:
When conservative methods do not produce results, surgical intervention is resorted to . The area of the affected vessel is removed along with the blood clot. The clot can be removed without an incision, through a puncture. To avoid the development of thrombosis, the surgeon ties the large saphenous vein.
Surgery for thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities is performed under local anesthesia. Hospitalization is necessary only in severe cases , minimal surgical intervention is performed on an outpatient basis, and the patient has the opportunity to complete his treatment at home.
Prevention of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities consists of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and optimal load on the legs , and should include:
If, due to the nature of your work, you have to spend a lot of time on your feet or you are at risk for other reasons, do not neglect preventive measures and visit your doctor on time.
The formation of blood clots is a cause of significant deterioration in quality of life, which can lead to death, so you need to know what to do if blood clots form.
A vein is a vessel through which blood circulates. Blood is collected in a vein by capillaries from body tissues. There is an extensive venous network throughout the body.
The vein itself has three layers: intima, smooth muscle, adventitial thick layer. The intima consists of endothelial cells and an elastic membrane; they are in direct contact with the blood.
The substance prostacyclin produced at this level fights blood clots and the attachment of clots to the walls of the vein.
The middle layer of smooth muscle is found only in the veins, thanks to which they stretch or expand. And the outer collagen and elastic membrane contains nerve endings.
The inner lining contains valves that regulate the movement of blood. Blood clots most often form directly near the valves.
A neoplasm such as deep vein thrombosis is usually called phlebothrombosis. Such veins are located under the muscles, and diagnosing a blockage is quite problematic. But the formation of a blood clot is preceded by a period of weak attachment of the clot to the wall of the vein.
But after about a week, this bloody blockage provokes an inflammatory process in the wall itself - thrombophlebitis. At this stage, the clot has already become denser and holds tightly. The blood clots then gradually accumulate higher up the vein.
The process of thrombus formation consists of 3 parts:
This is a rather serious disease, which is provoked by many factors, is difficult to detect and requires long-term treatment.
Blood clot in the leg treatment
Blood clots arise as concomitant problems in the following diseases:
At risk are people whose veins have been pressed for a certain period of time, as well as those who drink less than 1.5 liters of water. Insufficient physical activity, bedridden patients and elderly patients are also determinants of thrombosis. Some drugs (diuretics, contraceptives) also provoke clots.
The mild severity of the symptoms of the disease complicates its detection in the early stages. Typically, the patient pays attention to the following manifestations:
A superficial examination in the early stages is uninformative. It is more likely that it will be possible to identify the problem only when it becomes irreversible - a pulmonary embolism occurs and removal of a blood clot in the leg will not completely solve the problems caused by impaired blood supply.
Ultrasound examination of the lower extremities is used to confirm the diagnosis. This is how the localization, severity and type of blood clot are determined. An outpatient test is performed for problems below the knee.
If a blood clot is suspected in the groin area and up to the knee, the patient is categorically admitted to the surgical department.
A blood clot in the leg, treatment of which is started in the initial stages of the disease, can be treated with medication. But in most cases, surgery is required for a blood clot in the leg.
Delaying contact with a doctor and self-medication using traditional methods are contraindicated. Home measures are limited to preventing the disease and can only aggravate the patient’s condition, when the question of how to remove a blood clot from a vein is already associated with the treatment of concomitant diseases.
Drug treatment is aimed at thinning the blood. This will not save from already formed thromboses, but does not allow the patient’s condition to worsen. Heparin is mainly prescribed by injection.
After the blood clot is removed after leg surgery, complex treatment is used to strengthen the venous walls and restore the balance of the blood coagulation and circulation systems.
To combat symptoms of the disease, such as swelling, and also to improve blood supply to the extremities, elastic bandages are used.
The procedure for removing a blood clot on the leg is of interest to most patients due to the complexity of non-surgical treatment and the dangerous consequences of a detached clot. Although surgery is not a panacea.
If provoking factors are not excluded, the likelihood of relapse is high. Removal of blood clots in the legs occurs in the lumens of the vein, after weighing all possible complications for a particular patient.
But surgical treatment also includes complete amputation in the presence of venous gangrene. But the very presence of a blood clot causes constant concern among specialists.
Migration of clots and their particles threatens to block the pulmonary artery. The consequence of this is disruption of blood flow, and this is a direct path to respiratory and heart failure.
Therefore, blood clots on the legs, the operation to remove which is delayed, can serve as the basis for more severe conditions for the patient.
But the main thing is to find a specialist who you can completely trust. Such a doctor will definitely familiarize the patient with how blood clots are removed from the veins and what consequences await the person in any possible scenario.
After all, even if the blood clot in the leg has been removed, it is necessary to see a doctor regularly throughout your life in order to avoid new rounds of this insidious disease.
People tend to be afraid of operations. But the mechanism of action, how a blood clot is removed in specialized clinics, is developed to the smallest detail and is aimed at reducing the consequences for the human body and reducing risks during the procedure itself.
The recovery of a patient who required surgery to remove a blood clot in his leg takes place in the inpatient surgical department.
Treatment of a blood clot in the leg with conservative measures also includes a certain attitude of the patient himself towards his health. And the main thing a patient can do is change habits and review their diet.
For some categories (diabetes patients, for example), a strict diet will be required. For the rest, it is enough to follow the general recommendations that are given even in the absence of a diagnosis of thrombosis - more fresh vegetables and fruits, less fried, fatty and smoked foods. It is the lack of a diet and an irresponsible attitude towards the diet that activates destructive processes in the body.
Even for older people, moderate physical activity (walking, exercise) is recommended, but the body should not be overloaded either. To prevent recurrence of thrombosis, it may be necessary to change the place of work (office workers, like professional athletes in active sports, have the same chance of circulatory disorders).
What should you do to reduce the likelihood of a blood clot? Firstly, eat right and lead an active lifestyle. Secondly, do not wear tight clothes and shoes, wean yourself from the habit of crossing your legs - squeezing the arteries. And thirdly, listen to your body, which gives us signals about a problem through pain.
But limiting ourselves to preventive measures and folk remedies is extremely dangerous. People with trophic ulcers and pulmonary embolism are mainly a category of the population that for years ignored medical prescriptions or did not visit specialists at all, but treated themselves.
The formation of a blood clot in the leg is accompanied by characteristic symptoms, very painful, frightening because of the suddenness of their appearance. Thrombosis is provoked by varicose veins, blood clotting disorders, and prolonged forced immobility. Blood clots form in all veins, but most often in the venous system of the lower extremities.
A thrombus is a blood clot, the body of which is attached to the wall of the vein, and the tail floats freely with the blood flow. Blood clots reach quite large sizes. The attachment point may be in the lower leg, and the tail extends above the inguinal fold. Fragments can be separated from the tail section and set off on their own. Even more dangerous is the rupture of the head of the blood clot. In this case, there is a threat of blockage of the central blood vessels carrying blood to the head, heart, and lungs.
The blood clot, having attached itself to the venous wall, gradually increases in size. As the lumen of the vessel is blocked and blood flow is disrupted, symptoms of thrombosis appear. The first signs of venous thrombosis are:
Under the pressure of blood, a thrombus or part of it is torn away from the place of attachment to the vascular wall. In this case, it most often breaks down into separate fragments. The fate of these fragments is different. Some of them undergo further destruction, break up into even smaller pieces and are destroyed. The other part moves through the bloodstream to vital organs, posing a serious danger to their normal functioning. Blockage of the most important blood lines deprives the brain of nutrition, causing strokes, the heart, provoking heart attacks. Lack of nutrition (ischemia) of the organ causes lesions, the true nature of which cannot always be determined.
With superficial vein thrombosis, the picture of the disease becomes clearer upon visual examination. Pronounced bluishness of the skin, increased venous pattern, and characteristic swelling indicate the possibility of thrombosis and rupture of a blood clot.
The danger comes from detached blood clots and blood clots with flotation, when the head is attached to the wall, and the tail with the blood flow stretches along the blood vessel. If there is a threat of a blood clot penetrating into the deep femoral vein, surgical treatment is resorted to: the superficial vein in the area of the inguinal fold is ligated. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. There are other ways to deal with detached blood clots. If a blood clot in the leg breaks off in the inferior vena cava, the vein above the tear site is sutured: several channels are formed from the vessel wall through which blood flows freely, but the blood clot cannot pass.
Good results are shown by the thrombectomy technique using a special device - a thrombus extractor. After the blood clot is removed, a filter is installed in the vein to prevent the clot from entering the general bloodstream. To catch possible separated fragments, vena cava filters are installed above the separation site - special devices that allow blood to pass through, but retain a blood clot. The vena cava filter is inserted into the vein in a folded form and then opened. Vava filters are available in two models:
The “umbrella” is introduced for up to 45 days, after which the trap is removed. The Hourglass filter is set to a constant time. The use of the technique of installing removable or permanent filters increased the effectiveness of the prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism to 98%.
The danger of blockage of the deep veins of the thigh and leg is the possibility of migration of a blood clot into the pulmonary artery. The patient should be alerted to bursting pain in the lower leg, heaviness in the legs, and swelling of the affected limb. The patient's temperature rises sharply, veins appear on the skin of the sore leg, and the skin becomes glossy.
Elevate the affected leg and call a doctor. All warming procedures are contraindicated; the patient must remain in bed for 5 days and take anticoagulants. Instead of surgery, conservative treatment may be prescribed. When installing vena cava filters, fibrinolytics have a good effect on the resorption of blood clots and their fragments.
Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis is complicated by the similarity of its symptoms with signs of phlegmon of adipose tissue, rupture of Baker's cyst and a number of other diseases. Deep vein thrombosis of the thigh manifests itself:
The severity of symptoms and consequences depend on the location of the blood clot and its size. In many cases, blood flow is restored independently through the system of communicating veins. The blood flow is directed to the saphenous veins, and thrombosis remains unrecognized and is asymptomatic. The clot breaks down over time. Some of the fragments undergo lysis, the other part enters the bloodstream, freely floating through the circulatory system and causing complications.
Fragments of a blood clot of different sizes, wandering through the circulatory system, pose a danger to any organ. The greatest danger is occlusion of the pulmonary artery and the development of pulmonary thromboembolism.
Vein damage due to thrombosis also poses a health hazard. The process of thrombus formation is accompanied by deformation of the vascular wall and venous valves, which causes deterioration of blood circulation and congestion in the capillaries. Externally, the history of thrombosis is indicated by:
A detached blood clot can cause disability or even death. It is quite possible to avoid dangerous consequences if you take treatment seriously. Medicinal and endoscopic methods of combating a blood clot give a positive treatment result at all stages of its formation, separation and destruction.
Thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities is inflammation of a vein with the formation of a blood clot, which slows down blood flow. The disease has very serious consequences, leading in some cases to death.
Thrombophlebitis creeps up quietly and unnoticed, masquerading as minor problems with the legs (moderate pain, slight swelling, redness). In many cases, the onset of the disease remains without due attention; it is a frivolous attitude towards one’s own health that leads to sad results.
In this material we will talk about thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities (see photo), its first symptoms, as well as current treatment regimens.
Why does thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities occur, and what is it? One of the most common causes of thrombophlebitis is the consequences of varicose veins (this is another obvious proof of the need for timely treatment of varicose veins).
In addition to varicose veins, a number of diseases can provoke blood clots - these are common flu, tuberculosis, erysipelas, tonsillitis, pneumonia, caries, scarlet fever, diseases that cause a decrease in immunity and inflammatory processes of any localization. Prolonged bed rest and cardiac pathologies also pose a threat.
The likelihood of developing thrombophlebitis increases after surgery, trauma, pregnancy, and childbirth. I would like to draw special attention to damage to blood vessels caused by the placement of IVs - this is a significant risk factor.
There are three main factors that provoke the formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel:
The presence of at least one of these factors seriously increases the risk of developing thrombophlebitis.
The illness begins suddenly, against the background of good health. The increase in symptoms of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities occurs quickly:
The patient's condition is initially satisfactory. But as inflammation spreads, the symptoms of thrombophlebitis intensify: the process spreads to the subcutaneous tissue, the skin turns red, thickens, and adheres to the inflamed vessels. Her temperature is rising.
Further increase in the inflammatory process leads to headaches, chills, sweating, and an increase in body temperature above +39 °C. The area of the inflamed vein becomes hot and acutely painful, the lymph nodes in the groin become so enlarged that they cause pain when walking. If you do not consult a doctor at this stage of the disease, then further deterioration of the patient’s condition, even death, is possible.
What thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities looks like, we offer detailed photos of clinical manifestations for viewing.
Diagnosis of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities is carried out by instrumental minimally invasive or non-invasive methods, among which the leading position is occupied by ultrasound examination, and specifically by duplex angioscanning of the lower extremities with color mapping of blood flow.
The use of this method allows you to see a clear picture of the state of the venous lumen, see a blood clot in the veins of the lower extremities (if there is one), its location, and you can also clearly see the direction of blood flow and its speed.
If symptoms of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities are detected, it is important to prevent the spread of the disease to the deep veins, to exclude pulmonary embolism, to reduce inflammatory manifestations and prevent relapse.
If there is an existing pathology of dilated veins without affecting the deep ones, treatment can even be carried out on an outpatient basis. But if there is a threat of the formation of pulmonary embolism and a pronounced process of inflammation, treatment must be completed in a hospital under the supervision of specialists.
The main treatment is aimed at eliminating local and inflammatory thrombotic processes. In the first days, when thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities is being treated and the inflammatory phenomena are most pronounced, it is advisable to form a bandage using elastic bandages. As the manifestations subside, you can switch to medical knitwear - tights, stockings or knee socks of 2-3 compression class.
The treatment regimen also includes taking certain medications:
The most important thing you need to know about the treatment of thrombophlebitis is that you should not try to recover or somehow improve your condition on your own at home. Only a specialist is able to conduct a full diagnosis and, based on it, select medications, procedures or prescribe an operation.
Therapeutic gymnastics performed at home using simple exercises will help reduce the risk of further development of the disease:
Prevention of thrombophlebitis and prevention of complications can be done by promptly following the advice of traditional medicine.
Self-medication of acute thrombosis of the veins of the lower extremities with folk remedies without consulting a doctor is unacceptable; such treatment can lead to disability of the patient and even death.
If the patient has already suffered thrombophlebitis, then the doctor’s task is to prevent its relapse. In addition to elastic compression and phleboprotectors, it is advisable to include physiotherapeutic measures in the treatment complex - alternating magnetic fields, sinusoidal modulated currents.
The main principle of preventing thrombophlebitis is timely and adequate treatment of chronic venous diseases. This includes, first of all, surgical treatment of the early (uncomplicated) stages of varicose veins.
A blood clot in the leg, the symptoms of which are familiar to many people first-hand, is not only an aesthetic problem, it is also a rather complex disease, because it can have very serious consequences.
A blood clot in the leg, that is, complete or partial blocking of a vein with a blood clot, as a result of which blood flow in the limb either decreases or stops completely. There are two types of this disease:
Both varieties are combined under one diagnosis - thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities.
Phlebothrombosis is extremely rare. According to medical statistics, about ten out of a hundred such cases are diagnosed.
Experts consider the following to be the main reasons why blood clots form and consolidate in the veins of the legs:
The blood clot itself directly forms on the leg when three main conditions are combined:
What a blood clot looks like directly depends on where exactly it is located and for what reasons it formed.
Before treating thrombosis, the doctor determines the nature, stage of progress and condition of the disease. Thrombosis can be:
Thrombosis can be associated with disorders in the circulatory system, varicose veins, taking medications and other circumstances that caused the formation of a clot in a vein, that is, thrombosis. In this case, treatment is carried out comprehensively, since thrombosis is only a consequence, in fact, a symptom of another ailment that needs to be treated.
Depending on how blood clots in the veins are connected to the walls of the vessels, they can be:
Mixed blood clots are the most dangerous for humans, since their character can change at any moment, that is, at any second it can come off, clog a vessel, or begin to move through the bloodstream.
The main signs of a blood clot in the leg, which a person can notice on their own, without consulting a doctor, are:
Unfortunately, the first signs of blood clots often go unnoticed not only by the patients themselves, but also by medical workers.
The reason for going to the clinic, of course, is a combination of symptoms that worries a person. Blood clots in the legs are confirmed or refuted by doctors using the following diagnostic procedures:
After the presence of thrombosis is suspected, the symptoms are diagnosed and treatment is determined, recovery depends only on the severity of the thrombosis, its neglect, the responsible attitude and discipline of the patient himself.
Thrombophlebitis can be treated on an outpatient basis only if the area where the blood clot is located is in the ankle area. Treatment of other areas affected by thrombosis will require a hospital stay.
Drug therapy for the treatment of blood clots is always characterized by an integrated approach and, depending on the individual clinical picture, may include:
Of course, every patient with thrombosis is given strict bed rest. The duration of which depends on the severity of thrombosis. Typically, bed rest for thrombosis lasts from 2 to 3 weeks.
In addition to drug therapy, for thrombosis in some cases, treatment also involves surgical intervention.
The biggest difficulty in how to cure a blood clot arises when the disease moves into the ileofemoral stage of thrombosis, at which there is a very high risk of both direct separation of the blood clot and its fragmentation into pieces that begin to move through the bloodstream. At this stage of thrombosis, a vena cava filter is installed on the vein, a kind of mesh that does not let through and collects blood clots and clots in the vessel.
Treatment of thrombosis with folk remedies makes sense only at the very beginning of the formation of blood clots, but not at a time when the disease has already become obvious.
However, folk remedies for thrombosis are very good, as preventive measures, for use if there is a tendency to the occurrence and development of thrombosis, for example, due to heredity, any diseases, or lifestyle and work habits.
Among the folk recipes, the following can be considered the most effective for thrombosis.
Dried roots are sold at any pharmacy. They need to be crushed and filled with alcohol. Proportions – 100 grams of plant per 1 liter of alcohol. You need to insist in an opaque container in a cool place for two weeks.
For thrombosis, use both internally and externally. Internal intake – a tablespoon of infusion, diluted with a glass of water, twice a day. Externally - rub the infusion into the place where a blood clot has formed or may form, and for prevention - completely on all legs, once every two days, before bedtime.
For thrombosis, you will need a herbal mixture containing horsetail, common knotweed and hawthorn. Herbs should be presented in equal proportions. For an infusion against blood clots, they are poured with boiling water at the rate of 100 grams of dry plant material per 400 ml of water.
You need to insist for at least 4-5 hours, and take a decoction for thrombosis, a quarter of a glass, three times a day.
The results of the work of bees are good both for oral administration and for external use for thrombosis. As an ointment, honey is mixed with alcohol and rubbed into the legs, at least twice a week, at the site of the blood clot, and internally, honey and propolis for thrombosis are simply eaten daily, without any dosages or restrictions.
For thrombosis, you will need fresh leaves of ordinary fern, which should be crushed into a homogeneous porridge. You can use a blender or food processor for this. You need to add sour milk to the resulting green mass, so that when mixed, you get a rather thick and viscous mass, with a consistency reminiscent of ointment.
In order to prevent or treat thrombosis, the finished product is wrapped in gauze and applied to the legs like a compress. You need to keep it until the layer of fern pulp dries completely, and use it daily for thrombosis.
Frozen fern can also be used for thrombosis, but its effectiveness is lower, but dried raw materials for blood clots are useless.
You will need oak and willow bark, they are sold in pharmacies. They should be boiled over low heat in a ratio of 50/50/500; of course, the volume can be increased while maintaining the proportions. Let the decoction brew for two hours and add it to the bath, or prepare a foot bath using only the decoction.
You need to take medicinal baths for thrombosis and its prevention at least four times a week, and the duration of your feet in the water with the decoction should be at least forty minutes. The water temperature should not be hot, so as not to provoke a blood clot.
When using folk recipes for thrombosis, it is important to understand that not a single folk remedy in the world can cure thrombosis by replacing a surgeon’s scalpel or filtration meshes that can catch a blood clot. Therefore, in case of thrombosis, they should be treated not as an alternative to medicine, but as complementary preventive and healing agents that can prevent the formation of a blood clot.
Gastroenterology deals with the study of the functions and structure of the human digestive system under pathological/normal conditions. This section of medicine specializes in studying the causes of gastrointestinal diseases, as well as in the development of new methods of diagnosis, prevention and treatment. It is worth noting that gastroenterological diseases are considered one of the most common today (in terms of internal organs, of course). That is why the symptoms of these diseases deserve special attention. This section of our medical portal contains the best articles about the symptoms of certain gastroenterological diseases, as well as expert advice on what should be done in each specific case .
What determines such a significant “popularity” of gastrointestinal diseases? First of all, the modern rhythm of life, unfavorable ecology, permanent stress and poor nutrition. All these factors negatively affect the condition of our body – in particular, the gastrointestinal tract. Every year the number of patients suffering from chronic gastroenterological diseases is growing. And quite often the cause of the onset of the chronic form is precisely incorrect treatment (or, alternatively, self-medication), which only aggravates the course of the disease, giving a temporary improvement in the condition. This is why it is so important to be able to quickly recognize symptoms and take appropriate measures as early as possible. The materials collected in the “Symptoms” section do not constitute a call to action, as they are for advisory purposes only. Remember this!
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When a blood clot forms inside a vein and inflammation of the inner wall occurs with disruption of blood flow, this is thrombophlebitis. It should be distinguished from phlebothrombosis, in which a blood clot forms on an intact (non-inflamed) vascular wall. Over the course of the disease, it can be acute or chronic.
thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins, photo 1
Acute thrombophlebitis is characterized by more pronounced inflammation of the venous wall and intense pain. Against this background, the risk of developing complications in the form of thrombosis and thromboembolism (venous thrombus entering the vessels of various organs) significantly increases.
Pulmonary embolism is especially dangerous, which can be fatal if large diameter vessels become blocked.
Thrombophlebitis can affect the veins of both the upper and lower torso. The last option is the most common, because... features of hemodynamics (blood circulation) predispose to it. Acute thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities varies in the depth of localization of the affected vessels.
The appearance of venous thrombosis is associated with three main factors. They were first pointed out by the outstanding physiologist Rudolf Virchow. Since then, they have been called Virchow’s triad and are the basis for understanding the mechanisms of disease development:
These factors, both individually and in combination, are observed in certain diseases and conditions. Their presence is the background for the development of thrombophlebitis.
These include:
a systemic inflammatory process that develops during infectious diseases or autoimmune diseases, when immunity is directed against one’s own cells;
damage and infection of the vein wall due to injuries or intravenous injections, installation of an intravenous catheter, as well as when it is in the venous bed for a long time. This creates conditions for turbulent blood flow, in which platelet aggregation increases.
Symptoms of vessel damage, photo 2
The general picture of thrombophlebitis is formed from manifestations of the inflammatory process and symptoms of disruption of normal blood flow in the affected veins. With superficial thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities, symptoms are divided into general and local:
1. General symptoms indicating the presence of an inflammatory process. As a rule, they are similar to symptoms of flu (flu-like syndrome). Therefore, very often, in the initial absence of local manifestations, diagnosis is difficult.
They include:
2. Symptoms detected directly above the affected vessel.
These are signs of local inflammation (photo 2):
With deep vein thrombosis, the clinical signs of thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities will be more pronounced (see photo). In addition to the flu-like syndrome and increased local temperature, severe bursting pain, significant swelling, and cyanosis (cyanosis) appear in the limbs.
thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the lower extremities, photo 3
This symptomatology is determined below the level of blockage of blood flow by a thrombus. According to statistics, the most common is the involvement of the veins of the leg and lower third of the thigh in the pathological process.
Therefore, quite often patients experience pain when palpating the calf muscle and pain when raising the foot to the “stooping” position. The appearance of any of these signs, as well as “unexplained” swelling, is an indication for an urgent consultation with a phlebologist.
Establishing a diagnosis consists of two stages - preliminary and final.
The first involves a thorough conversation between the doctor and the patient and an objective examination - examination and palpation (palpation).
At the second stage, additional diagnostic tests are prescribed that help visualize the existing thrombus and assess the condition of the venous wall.
A more detailed diagnosis of thrombophlebitis is as follows.
During the patient interview, it is clarified:
When examining a patient, the doctor evaluates a number of important signs that allow one to judge the presence of thrombophlebitis and the possible development of complications:
1) General condition and adequacy of vital functions, such as breathing and blood circulation (assessment of blood pressure and pulse, respiratory rate, general body temperature).
2) The condition of both lower extremities , determined visually and palpation. It allows you to identify the presence of local symptoms - pain, redness, increased local temperature. A mandatory step is to check the pulsation of the arteries of the limbs.
This makes it possible to exclude complete blocking of the blood supply vessel by a thrombus, which is dangerous for the development of gangrene of the limb, ending in amputation.
An ECG is performed if shortness of breath and severe swelling of the affected limb are detected. Based on the graphical results obtained, pulmonary embolism (PE) can be diagnosed.
For final verification of this complication, an X-ray examination of the lungs is performed.
There are also specific laboratory tests that can determine the presence of thrombosis. These include:
Instrumental examination includes ultrasound duplex scanning of blood vessels. With its help, the doctor receives valuable diagnostic information:
When diagnosing “superficial thrombophlebitis”, it is necessary to exclude the presence of other similar diseases:
Note: it is more correct to use the term “thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities” rather than “thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities”, since “phlebitis” already means inflammation of the veins, i.e. it turns out to be a tautology.
In case of an acute attack of thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities, or the appearance of severe pain, treatment should begin urgently - by the doctors of the ambulance team, which must be called immediately.
Consists of adequate pain relief and prevention of progression of blood clots. For this purpose, heparin is used intravenously once, aspirin orally, analgin intravenously. Currently, heparin has been replaced by low molecular weight anticoagulants (for example, fraxiparin). They have fewer side effects and are highly effective.
Subsequently, if medical observation and daily laboratory monitoring of platelet levels are possible, a 5-day course of anticoagulants is prescribed. In this case, preference is given to rivaroxaban, an indirect anticoagulant, the use of which does not increase the risk of massive bleeding.
Hospitalization to the vascular surgery department is carried out in the absence of conditions for treatment outside the hospital, as well as in the case of a high risk of developing life-threatening conditions.
It is indicated in the following cases:
When transporting the patient, it is necessary to place the affected limb in an elevated position. In case of refusal of hospitalization, the patient is recommended to urgently go to the clinic. At the same time, emergency doctors actively call a local doctor to your home.
Treatment of thrombophlebitis of the legs
In a hospital setting, the type and tactics of treatment are determined by the vascular surgeon.
The main therapeutic points are:
In order to prevent the appearance of new symptoms in thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities, additional local treatment is carried out. It consists of using various alcohol compresses, gel ointments, etc.
The ointments used in the treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities are classified into 3 groups:
Acute superficial thrombophlebitis has a favorable prognosis compared to deep thrombophlebitis. After the necessary treatment, the symptoms quickly stop, but the thickening of the vein may persist for some time.
If left untreated, the greatest danger is the penetration of a blood clot from the superficial into the deep vein system, which can aggravate the condition and lead to the development of deep thrombophlebitis.
In turn, thrombophlebitis of the deep veins of the lower extremities can be complicated by pulmonary embolism. Its development occurs when a detached thrombus enters (embolization) into the pulmonary artery system.
The sudden appearance of shortness of breath in combination with swelling and pain in the leg may indicate the development of this complication. In this case, emergency hospitalization of the patient is indicated.
Preventive measures for thrombophlebitis include:
In the international classification of diseases, thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities is:
Class IX. Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)
I80-I89 - Diseases of the veins, lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes, not elsewhere classified
I80 – Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis