intramuscular injection (redirected from Intra-muscular injections)

injection /in·jec·tion/ (in-jek´shun)

1. the forcing of a liquid into a part, as into the subcutaneous tissues, the vascular tree, or an organ.

2. a substance so forced or administered; in pharmacy, a solution of a medicament suitable for injection.

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hypodermic injection  subcutaneous i.

intracutaneous injection  intradermal i.

intracytoplasmic sperm injection  (ICSI) a micromanipulation technique used in male factor infertility, with insertion of a spermatocyte directly into an oocyte.

intradermal injection  one made into the dermis or substance of the skin.

intramuscular injection  one made into the substance of a muscle.

intrathecal injection  injection of a substance through the theca of the spinal cord into the subarachnoid space.

intravenous injection  one made into a vein.

jet injection  one made through the intact skin by an extremely fine jet of the solution under high pressure.

lactated Ringer's injection  a sterile solution of calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and sodium lactate in water for injection, given as a fluid and electrolyte replenisher.

Ringer's injection  a sterile solution of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and calcium chloride in water for injection, used as a fluid and electrolyte replenisher.

subcutaneous injection  one made into the subcutaneous tissues.

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intramuscular injection

Etymology: L, intra + musculus

the introduction of a hypodermic needle into a muscle to administer a medication.

method The equipment is selected, and the medication drawn up into the syringe. The selected site is prepared by cleansing with alcohol. The sites most commonly used are the upper outer quadrant of the gluteal area, the ventrogluteal area, the vastus lateralis of the thigh, or the deltoid muscle. Care must be taken to identify landmarks and select sites to prevent damage to nerves and adjacent structures. The skin is stretched between the thumb and forefinger. The needle is introduced at a 90-degree angle to the muscle with a quick thrust and advanced as necessary-not as far as the hub of the needle, but deep into the muscle. The plunger is withdrawn slightly to be sure that the needle has not been placed in a blood vessel. The solution is injected slowly, the needle is withdrawn, and the injection site is massaged unless contraindicated.

interventions If the gluteal area is chosen, the patient is asked to lie prone with ankles bent and feet curved in, so that the toes of each foot are directed toward the opposite foot to relax the gluteal muscles, thus making the injection less painful. Injection into deltoid muscles is more painful than in other sites and is avoided if possible. The ventrogluteal area and the vastus lateralis are the preferred injection sites in infants. Care is taken not to hit the femur with the tip of the needle when injecting into the vastus lateralis. Needles and syringes are always disposed of safely in a puncture-resistant container without recapping.

outcome criteria Infection may result from nonaseptic technique; care is taken not to contaminate the needle before injection or to suffer a needlestick. Certain medications can cause tissue necrosis if injected into the subcutaneous tissues. Many medications may be given intravenously or intramuscularly, but the intravenous dose may be much smaller. Inadvertent injection into a blood vessel can cause severe systemic reactions of an overdose. Often biologics, such as antigens, serums, or vaccines, may leave a knot in the muscle that is not painful and that subsides slowly over several weeks or months, though it may cause concern in the patient or in the parents of younger patients. The lump should not grow larger or become more painful. If it does, one may assume that an abscess has formed.

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injection

1. the forcing of a liquid into a part, as into the subcutaneous tissues, the vascular tree, or an organ.

2. a substance so forced or administered; in pharmacy, a solution of a medicament suitable for injection.

3. congestion.

4. immunizing substances, or inoculations, are generally given by injection. When a patient is unconscious, injection may be the only means of administering medication, and in some cases nourishment. Some medicines cannot be given by mouth because chemical action of the digestive juices or of hepatic enzymes would change or reduce their effectiveness, or because they would be removed from the body too quickly to have any effect. Certain potent medicines must be injected because they would irritate body tissues if administered any other way. A medication may be injected so that it will act more quickly.

In addition to the most common types of injections described below, injections are sometimes made under the conjunctiva, into arteries, bone marrow, the spine, the sternum, the pleural space of the chest region, the peritoneal cavity and joint spaces.

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injection collar

a collar carrying an injection device which can be triggered from a remote site.

epidural injection

see epidural.

hypodermic injection

subcutaneous injection.

intradermal injection, intracutaneous injection

injection of small amounts of material into the corium or substance of the skin. This method is used in diagnostic procedures and in administration of regional anesthetics, as well as in treatment procedures. In certain allergy tests, the allergen is injected intracutaneously. These injections are given in an area where the skin and hair are sparse, usually on the inner part of the thigh in dogs or the caudal fold in cows. A small-gauge needle is recommended and it is inserted at a 10- to 15-degree angle to the skin.

intramuscular injection

injection into the substance of a muscle, usually the thigh or pectoral muscle, or the muscle of the neck or rump. Intramuscular injections are given when the substance is to be absorbed quickly. They should be given with extreme care, especially in the thigh, because the sciatic nerve may be injured or a large blood vessel may be entered if the injection is made without drawing back on the syringe first.

intraperitoneal injection

liquid injection, usually of antibacterial agent, rarely anesthetic or euthanatizing agents, administered to obtain systemic blood levels of the agent; faster than subcutaneous or intramuscular injection and used when veins not accessible. The needle is introduced into the upper flank and the syringe plunger withdrawn to ensure that intestine has not been penetrated. The injected solution should run freely.

intratesticular injection

a method of administering a general anesthetic agent to boars for castration.

intravenous injection

an injection made into a vein. Intravenous injections are used when rapid absorption is called for, when fluid cannot be taken by mouth, or when the substance to be administered is too irritating to be injected into the skin or muscles. In certain diagnostic tests and x-ray examinations, a drug or dye may be administered intravenously. Blood transfusions also are given by this route. See also intravenous infusion.

subarachnoid injection

the risk of injection is greatest at the atlanto-occipital space where the vertebral venous plexus is most likely to be lacerated.

subcutaneous injection

injection made into the subcutaneous tissues; called also hypodermic injection. Although usually fluid medications are injected, occasionally solid materials, such as steroid hormones, are administered subcutaneously in small, slowly absorbed pellets to prolong their effect. Subcutaneous injections may be given wherever there is subcutaneous tissue, usually in the loose skin on the side of the chest or in the flank. The amount injected should not exceed 2 ml for cats and small dogs, 5 ml for large dogs and 20 ml for horses. Cows are often given 200 ml because of their very loose skin. The needle is held at a 45-degree angle to the skin.

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intramuscular

within the substance of a muscle.

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intramuscular injection

see intramuscular injection.