Intramuscular injection is the most common and easiest way to administer drugs. However, if improperly performed, complications of intramuscular injections can occur, which can be avoided if the manipulation is performed correctly.
Features of the procedure
Before injection, careful preparation is necessary. It will not only allow you to correctly inject, but also reduce the risk of complications. It is worth starting with theoretical skills that allow you to deliver intramuscular injections. How to make an injection in the buttock and thigh? For convenience, all manipulation is conditionally divided into stages.
Stage 1. Equipment is being prepared for the injection. A syringe, drugs, alcohol and 4 cotton balls or disposable alcohol wipes are prepared. You will definitely need a container in which the cotton wool and syringe will be placed before and after the injection.
Stage 2. Disinfection of the ampoule and a set of medication is carried out. An ampoule with the medicine is taken and the inscription is carefully read, the volume, dosage, expiration date are checked. Then an alcohol napkin is taken and the ampoule is rubbed with it at the autopsy site. Next is the medicine. During this, it is necessary to ensure that the needle does not touch the walls of the ampoule. After removing the needle from the ampoule, a cap is put on it.
Stage 3. An alcohol wipe is taken, and it processes the injection site, the direction from the center to the periphery. Then another napkin is taken, another treatment of the injection site, but of a smaller diameter, is carried out. This is necessary so that complications of intramuscular injections in the form of inflammation do not occur.
Stage 4. A syringe is taken, the needle rises up and, without removing the cap, air is released from it. Then the cap is removed and a sharp movement, at a right angle, injection is performed. Drugs are administered slowly, with equal pressure on the syringe plunger.
Step 5. After administration of the drug, the needle is sharply removed, an alcohol wipe is applied to the injection site.
Where to stab
To avoid complications, it is not enough to know exactly how intramuscular injections are carried out, how to do it in the thigh, buttock - this is no less important.
To perform an injection in the buttock, it is necessary to "divide" it into four squares. The injection is performed in the upper outer square.
For injection into the thigh, its front surface is also divided into four parts. An injection is made in the outer upper corner.
With an incorrectly performed procedure, various complications of intramuscular injection occur.
Infiltrate
Signs of pathology are the presence of compaction and severe soreness of the injection site. Infiltrates occur due to a violation of the method of drug administration, when using underheated oil solutions, as well as with numerous injections at the same place.
In order to avoid infiltration, it is necessary to carefully choose a place for injection, alternate buttocks, and also monitor the temperature of the injected drugs and correctly perform the manipulation.
If there are complications of intramuscular injection in the form of an infiltrate, then a heating pad should be applied to the sore spot or a warm compress should be made. The iodine grid helps to speed up the resorption of the seal.
Abscess
In violation of the rules of asepsis, an abscess appears. This is a purulent inflammation that has a clear boundary. Signs of pathology are pain, redness of the skin over an abscess with a clear boundary, as well as an increase in body temperature.
To avoid the appearance of an abscess, it is necessary to observe the rules of asepsis. However, in cases where a complication arose, surgical treatment is prescribed by opening and draining the cavity.
Needle breaking
In rare cases, postinjection complications with intramuscular injections can be triggered by a broken needle. This occurs due to severe muscle spasm during the procedure, due to a poor-quality needle, and also due to the insertion of the needle to the cannula itself. To avoid breaking the needle, it is introduced into the tissue to a depth of no more than 2/3 of its length. During the procedure, the patient should lie down.
If the needle is broken, then tweezers are used to remove it. There are times when a chip goes too deep into the tissue and cannot be reached. In this case, surgical extraction is performed.
Embolism
Another possible complication with intramuscular injection is air and oil embolism. Signs of pathology are similar. During the procedure, oil or air enters the vessel and with the flow of blood reaches the pulmonary vessels. As a result, suffocation occurs leading to the death of the patient.
Oil embolism occurs due to the ingress of a solution into a vessel during intramuscular injection. To avoid this, during the injection, the solution should be administered in a two-step way.
The prevention of air embolism helps to comply with the rules of the introduction of drugs in / m, namely, carefully displace the air from the syringe.
Nerve damage
With the wrong choice of injection site or when the needle passes near the nerve trunk, neuritis or paralysis of the limb may occur. To avoid this, it is necessary to carefully select the injection site.
Hematoma
Inaccurate intramuscular injection can trigger a hematoma. Prevention of education is the use of sharp needles for intramuscular injection and adherence to manipulation techniques.
Treatment of complications of intramuscular injections in the form of hematomas occurs by applying an alcohol compress to the injection site . To accelerate the resorption of the hematoma, various ointments recommended by the attending physician can be applied.
When performing intramuscular injection, it is necessary not only to know the theory of manipulation itself, but also to be able to apply the acquired knowledge in practice. Compliance with all norms will avoid complications.