YOUR HEALTH

There is a connection between phlebitis and lung blood clots

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is phlebitis the same as blood clots? My daughter has phlebitis. She was given aspirin and told to keep her leg elevated. After the birth of my fourth child, I had phlebitis. I was treated in the hospital for it and was put on blood thinners. Has the thinking on phlebitis changed? -- V.M.

ANSWER: Phlebitis (flea- BITE-us) is vein inflammation. In most cases, a clot has formed in the vein, and the proper term is actually "thrombophlebitis" -- the "thrombo" indicating "clot." And most of the time, this happens in a leg vein.

The seriousness of phlebitis in a leg vein centers on its location. If the involved vein is near the surface -- under the skin -- the condition is superficial phlebitis, and it causes redness, pain and swelling, but it's not usually a danger to health or life.

If the involved vein is one buried deep in muscles -- a deep vein -- then the problem takes on much more importance. Pieces of a deep-vein clot can break loose and be swept in the circulation to the lungs. A broken-off piece of a clot is called an embolus. The embolus can cut off blood supply to a part of the lung. Then you have a pulmonary infarct, the lung equivalent of a heart attack. A large pulmonary infarct can be fatal.

Blood thinners are given to people with deep-vein phlebitis to prevent growth of the clot and the possibility that growth will give rise to an embolus. Deep-vein clots are treated with great respect and almost always in the hospital.

Your experience after delivery is not all that unusual. That's a time when clot formation is apt to happen. Other situations where clots form easily and where the threat of their consequences has to be considered are heart failure, cancer, when on bed rest or taking birth-control pills and post-operatively.

Your daughter must have superficial phlebitis.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com. 2006 North America Syndicate Inc.

All Rights Reserved