Air bubble in pre-filled syringes

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I know this has been discussed before: I see many threads from years ago.

I always leave the air bubble in prefilled syringes, I know that this is called an "air lock" and helps push all the medicine in, yadda yadda yadda.

The things is: I don't remember where or why I know this, and I just did a flu clinic and EVERYONE else was pushing the air out, and I was like, um what are you doing, and NONE of them had heard of leaving the air bubble in the syringe.

So I start scouring the internet for "official" information on air-lock and injection guidelines,and I am coming up with absolutely NOTHING!

Does anyone have any scientific source for why we leave the air bubble and about the "air lock" technique? I need to prove to these nurses that I was not, in fact, harming my patients.

Any help is appreciated :)

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I don't know why, but my skills teacher told us last week that it was manufactured with the intention of leaving the bubble in and it won't hurt the patient.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Respiratory/PCU.

IM yes (protocol calls for Z-track AND air lock technique)

IVP/flush no.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Mental Health.

Airlock technique both clears the needle of any residual medication and "locks" the medicine in the muscle, i.e. prevents it from tracking into the subcutaneous tissue after you remove the needle.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

This remains a debated subject with the studies varied.....the conclusion is.....if the manufacture put it there use it.

http://www.nursingconsult.com/nursing/books/978-0-323-04624-4/index/full-text?alpha_eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04624-4..50018-4--bib13&range_eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04624-4..50018-4--bib13&isbn=978-0-323-04624-4&detail_eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04624-4..50018-4--subchapter3&isPageEid=true#hash_4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04624-4..50018-4--subchapter3

http://www.nursingconsult.com/nursing/journals/0897-1897/full-text/PDF/s0897189702000046.pdf?issn=0897-1897&full_text=pdf&pdfName=s0897189702000046.pdf&spid=12535552&article_id=484740

http://www2.massgeneral.org/bmg/z%20files/Lovenox.pdf

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