Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Superficial Thrombophlebitis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Current Management of Venous Diseases

  • 1962 Accesses

Abstract

Although superficial venous thrombophlebitis (SVT) is a relatively common disorder with a significant incidence of recurrence and has potential morbidity from extension and pulmonary embolism (PE), SVT has been considered the stepchild of DVT and received limited attention in the literature. Traditional teaching suggests that SVT is a self-limiting process of little consequence and small risk leading some physicians to dismiss these patients with the clinical diagnosis of SVT and to treat them with “benign neglect.” In an attempt to dispel this misconception, this chapter will examine the more current data regarding SVT and its treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. DeWeese MS. Nonoperative treatment of acute superficial thrombophlebitis and deep femoral venous thrombosis. In: Ernst CB, Stanley JC, editors. Current therapy in vascular surgery. Philadelphia: BC Decker Inc.; 1991. p. 952–60.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lutter KS, Kerr TM, Roedersheimer LR, Lohr JM, Sampson MG, Cranley JJ. Superficial thrombophlebitis diagnosed by duplex scanning. Surgery. 1991:42–6.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lohr JM, McDevitt DT, Lutter KS, Roedersheimer LR, Sampson MG. Operative management of greater saphenous thrombophlebitis involving the saphenofemoral junction. Am J Surg. 1992;164:269–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hanson JN, Ascher E, DePippo P, Lorensen E, Scheinman M, Yorkovich W, Hingorani A. Saphenous vein thrombophlebitis (SVT): a deceptively benign disease. J Vasc Surg. 1998;27:677–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. de Godoy JM, Batigalia F, Braile DM. Superficial thrombophlebitis and anticardiolipin antibodies—report of association. Angiology. 2001;52:127–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hammond JS, Varas R, Ward CG. Suppurative thrombophlebitis: a new look at a continuing problem. South Med J. 1988;81:969–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Glasser ST. Principles of peripheral vascular surgery. Philadelphia: FA Davis; 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mayor M, Buron I, de Mora JC, Lazaro TE, Hernandez-Cano N, Rubio FA, Casado M. Mondor’s disease. Int J Dermatol. 2000;39:922–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sasso F, Gulino G, Basar M, Carbone A, Torricelli P, Alcini E. Penile Mondors’ disease: an underestimated pathology. Br J Urol. 1996;77:729–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Bergqvist D, Jaroszewski H. Deep vein thrombosis in patients with superficial thrombophlebitis of the leg. Br Med J. 1986;292:658–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Prountjos P, Bastounis E, Hadjinikolaou L, Felekuras E, Balas P. Superficial venous thrombosis of the lower extremities co-existing with deep venous thrombosis. A phlebographic study on 57 cases. Int Angiol. 1991;10:263–5.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sassu GP, Chisholm CD, Howell JM, Huang E. A rare etiology for pulmonary embolism: basilic vein thrombosis. J Emerg Med. 1990;8:45–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cunningham FG. Section XIII. Medical and surgical complication in pregnancy. Williams obstetrics. 20th ed. Sanford, CT: Appleton & Lange; 1997. p. 1112.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Talbot SR. Use of real-time imaging in identifying deep venous obstruction: a preliminary report. Bruit. 1982;6:41–2.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Skillman JJ, Kent KC, Porter DH, Kim D. Simultaneous occurrence of superficial and deep thrombophlebitis in the lower extremity. J Vasc Surg. 1990;11:818–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Jorgensen JO, Hanel KC, Morgan AM, Hunt JM. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with superficial thrombophlebitis of the lower limbs. J Vasc Surg. 1993;18:70–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ludbrook J, Jamieson GG. Disorders of veins. In: Sabiston Jr DC, editor. Textbook of surgery. 12th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1981. p. 1808–27.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hobbs JT. Superficial thrombophlebitis. In: Hobbs JT, editor. The treatment of venous disorders. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1977. p. 414–27.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Chengelis DL, Bendick PJ, Glover JL, Brown OW, Ranval TJ. Progression of superficial venous thrombosis to deep vein thrombosis. J Vasc Surg. 1996;24:745–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Blumenberg RM, Barton E, Gelfand ML, Skudder P, Brennan J. Occult deep venous thrombosis complicating superficial thrombophlebitis. J Vasc Surg. 1998;27:338–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Husni EA, Williams WA. Superficial thrombophlebitis of lower limbs. Surgery. 1982;91:70–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Lofgren EP, Lofgren KA. The surgical treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis. Surgery. 1981;90:49–54.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Gjores JE. Surgical therapy of ascending thrombophlebitis in the saphenous system. Angiology. 1962;13:241–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Plate G, Eklof B, Jensen OP. Deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and acute surgery in thrombophlebitis of the log saphenous vein. Acta Chir Scand. 1985;151:241–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Decousus H, Quéré I, Presles E, Becker F, Barrellier MT, Chanut M, Gillet JL, Guenneguez H, Leandri C, Mismetti P, Pichot O, Leizorovicz A, POST (Prospective Observational Superficial Thrombophlebitis) Study Group. Superficial venous thrombosis and venous thromboembolism: a large, prospective epidemiologic study. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152(4):218–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ascer E, Lorensen E, Pollina RM, Gennaro M. Preliminary results of a nonoperative approach to saphenofemoral junction thrombophlebitis. J Vasc Surg. 1995;22:616–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Belcaro G, Nicolaides AN, Errichi BM, Cesarone MR, De Sanctis MT, Incandela L, Venniker R. Superficial thrombophlebitis of the legs: a randomized, controlled, follow-up study. Angiology. 1999;50:523–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Sullivan V, Denk PM, Sonnad SS, Eagleton MJ, Wakefield TW. Ligation versus anticoagulation: treatment of above-knee superficial thrombophlebitis not involving the deep venous system. J Am Coll Surg. 2001;193:556–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Decousus H, Prandoni P, Mismetti P, Bauersachs RM, Boda Z, Brenner B, Laporte S, Matyas L, Middeldorp S, Sokurenko G, Leizorovicz A, CALISTO Study Group. Fondaparinux for the treatment of superficial-vein thrombosis in the legs. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(13):1222–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Vascular Surgery, NYU Lutheran Medical Center, 150 55th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11220, USA

    Anil Hingorani MD

  2. Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, NYU Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Enrico Ascher MD

Authors
  1. Anil Hingorani MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Enrico Ascher MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anil Hingorani MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Cassius Iyad Ochoa Chaar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Hingorani, A., Ascher, E. (2018). Superficial Thrombophlebitis. In: Chaar, C. (eds) Current Management of Venous Diseases . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65226-9_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65226-9_22

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-65225-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-65226-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation