The phlebologist told about the danger of thrombophlebitis
According to the specialist, in addition to varicose veins, other causes may play a role in the development of thrombophlebitis, for example, hereditary thrombophilia (the body's tendency to form blood clots), endocrine disorders, cancer, surgery on the legs (vessels, joints, tendons) or regular use of hormonal drugs.
Thrombophlebitis begins with an inflammatory process in the venous wall, which leads to its thickening, as a result, blood flow slows down and blood clots begin to form.
"Most often, inflammation begins in the superficial veins, which are susceptible to varicose veins. The signs characteristic of the initial form of the disease are severe local pain in the area of the affected vein, hyperemia (redness) and swelling of the tissues, compaction of the vein itself, which can be felt on palpation, and in some cases, an increase in body temperature," Zakharova explained.
She noted that as the thrombosis progresses, it can spread to deep veins, which is already a life-threatening condition. In this case, pronounced swelling appears, pain in the leg increases, and cyanosis of the skin may appear. With severe blockage by blood clots, a pronounced swelling of the subcutaneous veins can be noticed.
The greater the extent of the thrombosis, the more pronounced the symptoms are. When the femoral vein is affected, edema of the entire limb develops, which is accompanied by intense pain in the groin area.
The main danger of thrombophlebitis, according to the phlebologist, is the instability of the thrombus. If part of a blood clot suddenly breaks off, it can flow into the heart and further into the pulmonary artery, causing pulmonary embolism. This life-threatening condition often leads to death. In addition, depending on the prevalence of inflammation and thrombosis, this disease can lead to purulent-inflammatory processes in tissues, acute heart and kidney failure, which can lead to fatal consequences.
Currently, complex treatment — systemic anti—inflammatory, anticoagulant therapy with surgical intervention - is considered one of the most effective methods to prevent the progression of the disease and the development of complications. Moreover, specialists use both traditional operations (crossectomy) and low-traumatic techniques, the phlebologist noted.
In the treatment of thrombophlebitis, an individual approach is needed, which evaluates many factors: the patient's age, the presence of chronic diseases, the prevalence and localization of thrombosis.
"With a sufficiently pronounced thrombotic process and a high location of the thrombus, as well as with its flotation (instability and high risk of detachment), we use a crossectomy. We ligate the large subcutaneous vein and additionally all its estuarine tributaries. This helps to prevent the spread of blood clots higher up the venous bed, its possible separation, as a result, pulmonary embolism," the doctor said.
She clarified that when the tributaries of the subcutaneous vein are affected, endovenous laser coagulation is used — a low-trauma method that does not require general anesthesia. If the lesions of the veins are minor, a conservative treatment option is also possible — complex anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and vascular therapy.
In conclusion, the expert noted that the most important thing is the timely start of treatment, which will help avoid complications and reduce the risks of the disease becoming chronic.
Earlier, on December 27, 2024, Sergey Tarabarin, MD, Professor, leading surgeon at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia that prevention of varicose veins is an important aspect in reducing the likelihood of this disease, especially for people who are susceptible to certain factors. They should avoid prolonged static loads.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
