IM site bleeding

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Is some bleeding from an IM flu shot injection site normal, upon needle withdrawal? (when there was no blood upon aspiration) Could it be caused by injection angle, or by not withdrawing the needle straightly enough? Most flu shots I've given were bloodless; but on one I saw some blood.

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

Yup, I have gotten alot more this year than last year. Lots of bleeding with needle withdrawal, but no blood return with aspiration.

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I have had IM injections bleed before. Maybe because you are going through the muscle and you catch it just right?

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Very common. It's possible to go through a vessel, so there would be no blood on aspiration, but you would see it on withdrawal.

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Thank you for your responses! This is reassuring.

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

It happens occasionally. The bevel of the needle may have nicked a capillary or other very small vessel on the way through the tissue.

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Do you guys still aspirate? I was taught not to.

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Yes, my class was taught to aspirate with flu shots, and pretty much all IM injections. I was wondering as well about the flu shots, since I swear everytime I've received a flu shot, they didn't aspirate, unless they have really quick hands! Aspirating did reassure me that I didn't inject into a vein, though.

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Yeah Sue, we still aspirate..probably" just because WE do!!":lol2: Do you have any evidence against??? Gratefully.............dee!

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Specializes in Psych, Psych and more Psych.
Suesquatch said:
Do you guys still aspirate? I was taught not to.

I was giving Prolixin decanoate a few weeks ago, aspirated, and lo and behold! Darned if I didn't aspirate blood!! :eek: Second time in 20 + years of giving IMs. The first time was as a student giving a pre-op Demerol IM. So, yes, I still aspirate.

Mary

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

I have never aspirated blood, but I always aspirate.

Sue, what was the rationale behind not aspirating? Im genuinely curious.

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CyndieRN2007 said:
I have never aspirated blood, but I always aspirate.

Sue, what was the rationale behind not aspirating? Im genuinely curious.

They never really gave one, just that they didn't deem it necessary, that it was old fashioned and we didn't need to. Given that I had no experience at all I didn't think to question it.

:confused:

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