Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis
Basics
Description
- Development of blood clot within the deep veins of the body, usually as a result of surgery or trauma to blood vessels, accompanied by inflammation of the vessel wall
- Major clinical consequences are embolization (usually to the lung), recurrent thrombosis, and postphlebitic syndrome.
Epidemiology
- Age- and gender-adjusted incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is 100 times higher in the hospital than in the community. Almost half of all VTEs occur either during or soon after discharge from a hospital stay or surgery.
- 10–30% of patients diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE) will die within 1 month of diagnosis.
- 1/3 (about 33%) of people with DVT/PE will have a recurrence within 10 years.
- Of patients with VTE, 20% are complicated with PE. The 28-day DVT fatality rate is 5.4%; at 1 year, 20%; at 3 years, 29%.
Incidence
- In the United States, VTE incidence is 50.4/100,000 person per year.
- Increased incidence in Caucasian and African American populations and with aging
- Most common site: lower extremity DVT
- Incidence in pregnancy: ~0.5 to 3/1,000
- 1–5% of central venous catheters are complicated by thrombosis.
Prevalence
- Variable; depends on medical condition or procedure
- At the time of DVT diagnosis, as many as 40% of patients also have asymptomatic PE; conversely, 30% of patients diagnosed with PE do not a have demonstrable source.
- Present in 11% of patients with acquired brain injury entering neurorehabilitation
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Factors involved may include venous stasis, endothelial injury, and hypercoagulability (Virchow triad).
Genetics
- Factor V Leiden, the most common thrombophilia, is found in 5% of the population and in 10–65% of all VTE events and increases VTE risk 3- to 6-fold.
- Prothrombin G20210A is found in 3% of Caucasians; increases the risk of thrombosis ~3-fold
Risk Factors
- Acquired: COVID-19 infection (up to 3 months after acute infection), previous DVT, cancer, immobilization, trauma, traumatic brain injury, recent major surgery, medications (oral/transdermal contraceptives, estrogens, tamoxifen, glucocorticoids), obesity, smoking, antiphospholipid syndrome, acute infectious process, thrombocytosis, pregnancy/puerperium, central venous catheters, inflammatory bowel disease
- Hereditary: deficiencies of protein C, protein S, or antithrombin III; factor V Leiden R506Q, prothrombin G20210A mutation, dysfibrinogenemia, elevated factor VIII activity, hyperhomocysteinemia
General Prevention
- Mechanical thromboprophylaxis for patients with high bleeding risk
- For acutely ill and for critically ill hospitalized patients at increased risk of thrombosis, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), low-dose unfractionated heparin, or fondaparinux is recommended.
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816439/all/Deep_Vein_Thrombophlebitis.
Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816439/all/Deep_Vein_Thrombophlebitis. Accessed October 11, 2024.
Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816439/all/Deep_Vein_Thrombophlebitis
Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 October 11]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816439/all/Deep_Vein_Thrombophlebitis.
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