The Current State of Treatment of Superficial Thrombophlebitis of Lower Extremities

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The article is devoted to such an urgent problem as the choice of the most effective and safe method of treatment of thrombophlebitis of the saphenous veins of the lower extremities. This pathology is one of the most common in vascular surgery. Left untreated, saphenous vein thrombophlebitis can lead to a life-threatening complication such as pulmonary embolism. The main tasks that a vascular surgeon faces during treatment are to prevent the progression of the disease, relieve symptoms and reduce the likelihood of recurrence of thrombophlebitis of superficial veins. Approaches to the management of patients with this pathology have been changing over a long period of time — from active surgical tactics to conservative therapy and large studies on the effectiveness and safety of drugs. Due to development of modern methods of treating varicose veins, it has become possible to use endovascular methods of surgical intervention for saphenous veins thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. The article presents the review of the largest and most significant studies devoted to the results of treatment of patients with saphenous vein thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. CONCLUSION: Despite numerous studies and opinions of reputable experts in the field of vascular surgery, some issues of choosing the most safe and effective treatment method remain debatable at the present time. Thus, for example, it is not clear what is more effective — active surgical tactics with the existing indications or 45-day conservative therapy under continuous US control. There is no consensus in the opinions on the terms of phlebectomy for prevention of recurrence of venous thromboembolic events. These and other issues concerning the choice of tactics for the treatment of patients with thrombophlebitis of the saphenous veins require further study.