A 41-year-old member asked:
What is the treatment for phlebitis?
5 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. James Isobeanswered
Phlebology 56 years experience
Depends on area: Superficial phlebitis is treated with heat, anti-inflammatory agents, and tincture of time. Sometimes when infected, surgical excision is required. It is good practice to follow a patient with superficial phlebitis of the leg with repeat ultrasound. Deep venous thrombophlebitis is treated with anticoagulation, initially with heparin, lmwh, converting to coumadin (warfarin).
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A Verified Doctoranswered
42 years experience
Treating phlebitis: Phlebitis is an inflamed vein. These can usually be treated with anti-inflammatory medicine, compression, and ice and/or heat. The problem is that the inflammation is often caused by a thrombus (clot) and the only way to know that a clot is present or not is to have an ultrasound. Although treatment might not change with a clot present, a different treatment is possible, as dr. Isobe said.
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Dr. Norman Chideckelanswered
Vascular Surgery 44 years experience
Phlebitis: If it is superficial usually local care is adequate unless the clot is close to the deep system
Deep system clots are treated with anticoagulation therapy to prevent possible pulmonary embolism
All is decided by doing a venous Doppler sonogram
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741 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Robert Levineanswered
Dermatology 21 years experience
Anticoagulation: Interesting question because just had a patient who developed phlebitis two-weeks after a knee fracture. Her internist and i had a long discussion of whether to anticoagulant or do but in the end, she was admitted and started on oral anti-coagulation medications. In general the starting treatment will be ant-coagulation.
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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Lawrence Presantanswered
Phlebology 43 years experience
Phlebitis?: The first consideration in phlebitis(inflammed vein, superficial) is which vein and where. A duplex ultrasound is essential. Next, what is patient status, ambulatory, sedentary, postoperative?
Conservatively, compression, walking, anti-
imflammatory rx is prescribed. Bear in mind, a small percentage could have a silent deep vein clot as well. In some cases, anticoagulants are
given.
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4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
What are treatment options to phlebitis?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Lornell Hansenanswered
Phlebology 29 years experience
Many Options: I assume you are talking about a superficial phlebitis of the legs. The best option is to wear graduated compression stockings, take and anti-inflammatory medication daily and use moist heat to the area. I do a lot of vein care and at times will start the patient on Prednisone and at times drain the clotted blood from the vein to speed up the healing process.
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5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
What is phlebitis?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. Philip Woodworthanswered
General Surgery 27 years experience
Inflamed vein: Typically a self limited inflamation of a vein. Aspirin and heat. If does not resolve in a day or two seek evaluation.
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 23, 2017
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