IM Injection Question

BKRN · Jan 25, 2006

Thats a good question. When I first joined the military I received immunizations with an airgun in the deltoid and bled like crazy! When I took my 12 month old daughter to get her immunizations they gave them with a syringe (in the VL) but did not aspirate. When I asked her why not she said that she was never taught to on pediactric patients. She was a medic in the military. I have only worked with adults but in school was taught to aspirate on all IM injections. As far as the airgun I am curious to know.

Hi all...
I just took my little girl for her 12 month well-baby vaccines...and I noticed something with the procedure that I wondered about. She was given the vax with the airgun, not syringe. As you know, they line it up to the skin and POW!...but this is the thing...with syringes, we draw back to make sure we are in the muscle and not a vessel. Well, my little girl bled like crazy from the Vastus Lateralis site, which led me to think that the vax was injected into a vessel.
Doesn't it matter? How are they supposed to know that they are hitting the muscle with the airgun? There's no way to draw back.

Jo Dirt · Jan 25, 2006

I don't believe I could ever feel comfortable giving an injection like that. That sounds terrible.

ckh23, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

Interesting to know, but even you if give a injection IM it can still bleed. If you use a z track it helps to cut back on bleeding, but some meds you can't give it that way. Remember when you are using a needle, you have to go through vessles to get to the muscle. I do see your point though, if you can't aspirate back than how would you know?

Meerkat · Jan 28, 2006

Yea...It makes me wonder if aspirating is so important?