[Conservative management of thrombophlebitis. Cooling, wrapping and mobilizing the patient]

As the name implies, thrombophlebitis superficialis affects superficial extrafascial veins, and is thus to be differentiated from phlebothrombosis (thrombosis in the deep venous system). Special manifestations are varicophlebitis arising out of a varicosis, thrombophlebitis migrans or saltans as recidivating inflammation of non-varicose veins, and the rare Mondor's disease. On the basis of the typical clinical presentation with tenderness, reddening and warming of the skin over the hardened (palpation) vein, thrombophlebitis is relatively easy to diagnose. In uncertain cases, duplex ultrasonography serves to exclude involvement of the deep venous system. The leading therapeutic measure is compression. Whenever possible, the patient should be mobilized. Cold dressings, anti-inflammatory medication and, if indicated, a stab incision, help ameliorate pain.