I agree, however we find that thrombus in the upper extremity is usually secondary to another procedure rather than primary. We don't call it superficial thrombophlebitis or DVT, it's located, aged and a comment on attachment then dealt with along with the underlying cause.

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Ridgway [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 7:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject:

Hi-

I have been objecting around here to the practice of calling "superficial thrombophlebitis" vs. "deep vein thrombosis" in the upper extremities. It seems to me that this distinction is kind of meaningless in the UE; I read in the texts that the cephalic and basilic veins carry more UE outflow than the brachial veins, so cephalic or basilic vein thrombus is potentially as troublesome as brachial vein thrombus. All can propagate proximally, and all can embolize.

I think that calling "superficial thrombophlebitis" in an UE report unduly trivializes the findings.

Any thoughts on reporting standards for UE vs. LE thrombus?

Thanks,

Don Ridgway
Grossmont Hospital
Grossmont College

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