About dorsogluteal injection, if it only hit SC ( not muscle) is it will harm?

TazziRN, RN · Jul 17, 2006

No, the patient just won't received optimal results because the drug will be absorbed into the fatty tissue. If you have a large overweight patient, use a 3-inch spinal needle.

Larry77, RN · Jul 17, 2006

Some medications like Iron can stain the skin if not given deep IM using Z-track...

leonar · Jul 18, 2006

Because we cant sure if the needle has reached muscle, anyone can help?

leonar · Jul 18, 2006

I will inject Modecate 25

1. How to make sure the needle has reached the muscle?

2. I read on internet that it wont harm the patient, but only slowed the absorbtion of the medicine

3. "the patient just won't received optimal results because the drug will be absorbed into the fatty tissue" . Is this statement true?

CritterLover, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2006

it depends on what medication you are injecting.

some medications are very irritating to subcutaneous tissue and will damage it. phenergan, for example, can cause tissue necrosis.

other medications are absorbed differently from the subcutaneous tissue differently than from muscle tissue, such as narcotics. they can be given either sq or im, but the rate of absorption/duration of pain relief will differ. according to my drug book, the onset of action of morphine is "rapid" when given either im or sq, but the peak action is 30-60 min for im while 50-90 min for sq.

you need to read up on the drug prior to giving it. any good drug book will tell you if there will be problems if the medication is given sq.

leonar · Jul 19, 2006

I'm injecting Modecate 25, can you find information if it will danger or not if it doesnt reach muscle but only at subc.

leonar · Jul 20, 2006

Please help, Mrs senior ^.^

leonar · Jul 20, 2006

Please help, Mrs senior ^.^

CritterLover, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2006

i had a difficult time telling when i looked the drug up. modecate 24 is a long acting from of fluphenazine (fluphenazine decanoate). fluphenazine can be given im or sq, but i was having a hard time telling if the decanoate form can, and that is what you need to find out. from the drug books i was looking in, i thought you could give that form either sq or im, but i wasn't certain. my best advice to you is to ask a pharmacist.

if the drug can be given sq, then it is not going to hurt the patient if the medicine does not make it into the muscle. it will, however, probably alter the kinetics (rate of absorption, onset of action, duration of action) so it is still important to get the medicine into the muscle.

psalm_55 · Jul 20, 2006

the DORSOGLUTEAL site has fallen out of favor.

the more recent fundamental nursing textbooks are recommending that the dorsogluteal site not be used because of the inherent physiological risks associated with its use (the significant variation in fat pad, thinness of the muscle, proximity of the sciatic nerve and large vessels).

this recommendation first appeared in the nursing literature in 1995. an internet search of "ventrogluteal" will yield this information r/t the dorsogluteal site.

we are no longer teaching the dorsogluteal site in our nursing program -- and the local hospital has changed it's policy to delete this as an injection site.

leonar · Jul 21, 2006

oh, your response is apreciated, thx

So, how to make sure the needle has landed at muscle? by feeling only?