Vaskulárna medicína Suplement 1/2011/2011

Superficial thrombophlebitis – diagnostics and treatment. Guidelines.

Superficial thrombophlebitis (ST) is a common disease, usually considered to be benign.However, the practice of systemic duplex ultrasonography has revealed a large number of cases of deep vein thrombosis concomitant with ST. In contrast with extensive information on the management of deep vein thrombosis, there is little knowledge about the most appropriate treatment of the ST. Systematic duplex ultrasound investigation has been proposed in the initial management of ST, to detect the presence of any underlying deep vein thrombosis. The treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis should improve local symptoms while preventing the development of complications such as venous thromboembolism. The most effective therapeutic approach to ST seems to be represented by fondaparinux (a synthetic selective inhibitor of factor Xa) which have been shown to prevent VTE events and the extension and/or recurrence of ST.In our work diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for ST, proposed by Slovak angiological society, Slovak society for vascular surgeons, Slovak society for haemostasis and thrombosis, Slovak dermatological society, Slovak surgical society and Slovak internistic society are discussed.

Keywords: superficial thrombophlebitis, diagnosis, treatment.