Superficial thrombophlebitis: Epidemiology, physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Superficial thrombophlebitis of the lower limbs is a commonly occurring disease, and it is associated with various clinical and surgical conditions. Historically considered to be a benign disease due to its superficial location and easy diagnosis, its treatment was, for a long time, conservative in most cases. Nevertheless, recent reports of high frequency and associated thromboembolic complications, which vary from 22 to 37% for deep venous thrombosis and up to 33% for pulmonary embolism, have indicated the need for broader diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in order to diagnose and treat such possible complications. The possibility of coexistence of these and other systemic disorders (collagenosis, neoplasia, thrombophilia) interferes with evaluation and influences therapeutic conduct, which may be clinical, surgical or combined. However, due to a lack of controlled clinical assays as well as to a series of uncertainties regarding its natural history, the diagnosis and treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis remain undefined. A literature review was performed analyzing the epidemiology, physiopathology and current status of the diagnosis and treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis.