DISEASE DEFINITION SIGNS & SYMPTOMS NURSING

MANAGEMENT
MEDICAL
MANAGEMENT
FEMORAL
THROMBOPHLEBITIS
the femoral, saphenous, or
popliteal veins are involved.
Although the inflammation
site
in thrombophlebitis is a
vein, an accompanying
arterial
spasm often occurs,
diminishing arterial
circulation to a leg
as well. This decreased
circulation, along with
edema, gives
the leg a white or drained
appearance. It was formerly
believed
that breast milk drained into
the leg, giving it its white
appearance.

a woman notices an
elevated temperature,
chills, pain, and redness
in the affected leg
about 10 days after
birth.

Her leg begins to swell
below the lesion

skin becomes so
stretched (shiny and
white)

Homans sign may be
positive

The diameter of the leg
at thigh or calf level
may be increased
compared with the
other leg.
Advise bed rest and
elevate legs that
affected

Administer
anticoagulants and
application of moist
heat

Give moist warm
compress

Provide her with
appropriate activities to
exercise the other parts
of her body and
stimulate her mind.


administration of an
anticoagulants

administration of an
analgesic.

An appropriate
antibiotic
to reduce the initial
infection is prescribed.

Often, an anticoagulant
(coumarin derivative or
heparin) or a
thrombolytic agent such
as streptokinase or
urokinase is prescribed
to dissolve the clot
through the activation
of fibrinolytic
precursors and prevent
further clot formation.
PELVIC THROMBOPHLEBITIS Pelvic thrombophlebitis
involves the ovarian,
uterine, or hypogastric
veins. It usually follows a
mild endometritis and
occurs
later than femoral
thrombophlebitis, often
extremely ill

high fever, chills

general malaise

Her infection can be so
severe it necroses the
therapy involves total
bed rest

teach women
preventive measures to
reduce the risk of
recurrence with future
pregnancies. These
administration of
antibiotics and
anticoagulants.

If an abscess forms, it
can be located by
sonogram and incised
by laparotomy, if
around the
14th or 15th day of the
puerperium.. Risk factors
are the
same as for femoral
thrombophlebitis.
vein and results in a
pelvic abscess.
measures include not
wearing constricting
clothing such as garters
or tight stockings on the
lower extremities,
resting with the feet
elevated, and
ambulating daily during
pregnancy.

Caution a woman to tell
herphysician or nurse-
midwife before her next
pregnancy of the
difficulty she
experienced this time,
so that extra
prophylactic
precautions can be
taken to prevent
thrombophlebitis.
necessary.

A woman may need
surgery to remove the
affected vessel before
she attempts to
become pregnant again.
PULMONARY EMBOLUS A pulmonary embolus is
obstruction of the
pulmonary artery
by a blood clot; it usually
occurs as a complication of
thrombophlebitis.
sudden, sharp chest
pain

tachypnea

tachycardia

orthopnea

cyanosis
Clients condition
should be
extremely guarded
until the clot is
lysed or adheres to
the pulmonary
artery wall and is
reabsorbed.
A woman needs
oxygen
administered
immediately and is
at high risk for
cardiopulmonary
arrest.