From the Research
Grades of Thrombophlebitis
The grades of thrombophlebitis are not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, the studies do describe the different types and severity of thrombophlebitis:
- Superficial thrombophlebitis: a minimally thrombotic process of superficial veins associated with inflammatory changes and/or infection 1
- Superficial vein thrombosis: characterized by clotting of superficial veins with minimal inflammatory components 1
- Varicophlebitis: thrombotic inflammation of varicosities, which appears responsible for the majority of thrombotic venous occlusions 2
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): a more severe condition that can occur when thrombophlebitis extends to the deep venous system 3, 4
Severity of Thrombophlebitis
The severity of thrombophlebitis can vary, and the studies describe the following:
- Mild cases: may be treated with analgesics, elastic compression, and anti-inflammatory agents 1
- Severe cases: may require surgical intervention, such as crossectomy, ligation, and resection of the affected vein 3
- Complicated cases: may be associated with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening 3, 4
Diagnostic Techniques
The studies describe the following diagnostic techniques for thrombophlebitis:
- Clinical examination: may include palpable subcutaneous cords, tenderness, erythema, and edema 3
- Duplex ultrasonography: a non-invasive and reliable diagnostic method for detecting thrombophlebitis 3
- Venography: considered the "gold standard" of diagnostic tests, but may be too cumbersome for routine use 5
- Doppler ultrasound and impedance plethysmography (IPG): may be used to diagnose proximal DVT, with a high degree of agreement with venography 5