Phlebitis is defined as which?

Phlebitis is defined as which?

• A. Inflammation R/T repeated venipuncture
• B. Bruising of tissue
• C. Infection
• D. Blood clot

Answer: (A)

Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein, usually from irritation after venipuncture or an IV cannula. It presents with redness, warmth, tenderness, and possibly swelling along the vein. This matches the description of inflammation caused by repeated venipuncture. Bruising is a hematoma, not inflammation of the vessel. Infection would be cellulitis or septic involvement, not simply vein inflammation. A blood clot is thrombosis; when inflammation and clot occur together it’s thrombophlebitis, but phlebitis itself is the inflammatory process of the vein.

Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein, usually from irritation after venipuncture or an IV cannula. It presents with redness, warmth, tenderness, and possibly swelling along the vein. This matches the description of inflammation caused by repeated venipuncture. Bruising is a hematoma, not inflammation of the vessel. Infection would be cellulitis or septic involvement, not simply vein inflammation. A blood clot is thrombosis; when inflammation and clot occur together it’s thrombophlebitis, but phlebitis itself is the inflammatory process of the vein.