Variability in the Management of Superficial Venous Thrombophlebitis Among Phlebologists and Vascular Surgeons

Introduction: This study aimed to compare management patterns of patients with superficial venous thrombophlebitis (SVT) among phlebologists and vascular surgeons.

Methods: A survey was provided to practitioners who attended the American Venous Forum meeting in 2011. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, unpaired t tests, and Friedman's test for correlation.

Results: There were 354 US or Canadian health care providers of whom 169 were phlebologists and 185 were vascular surgeons. There was a significant different in anticoagulation administration and duration (P = .034, P = .032, respectively). Friedman's test for correlation between multiple surgical treatments showed no correlation between surgical treatments tested with all treatments having an equal distribution in our data. Follow-up differed between groups with vascular surgeons following up with imaging more than phlebologists (P = .03).

Conclusion: Our data indicate that there is no consensus between or among phlebologists or vascular surgeons as to the surgical management of superficial venous thrombophlebitis, duration of follow-up, and anticoagulation parameters.