IM Injections in premies

[LeashRN]

Hi all,

What are the sites and max amounts of drug in mls. of IM injections in premature infants?

Have looked through all my nursing texts (6 of them) and cannot find the answer. The closest I found is in reference to "small infants" - not even the term neonate was used. Or are IM injections just not done in premies and/or neonates.

Thanks if you can help a 3rd semester frustrated nursing student!

Leash

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

The only place we give preemies IM injections is in the front of the thigh - the vastus lateralis (I think I spelled that right - I'm exhausted right now). All babies need Vitamin K IM injections after birth, and all of our vaccines are given IM as well when the kids are a little older.

I don't know what the max amount of fluid is for an IM in preemies, but we almost always give 0.25ml of Vitamin K to babies under 2kg, and 0.5ml to babies over 2kg. Vaccinations are almost always 0.5ml.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

The most we give is 0.5ml in most cases. We also always use the front or side of the thigh....where ever there is more meat!

[LeashRN]

thank you for the info!

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Just reminded me of an incident when I was to give Synagis to a kid going home. I was at the bedside of my other pt, a 600 gramer, and the pharmast walks in. I wave him over and ask if that's my Synagis, He hands it too me, looks at my 600 gram kid and takes it back and says, "I'm gonna have to divide this dose!!!!" :rotfl:

[prmenrs, RN]

I have given volumes of 1/4 ml in the triceps or deltoid region. Try to visualize where that little muscle is as you feel it; don't go too deep. For the triceps, I always go in @ an angle.

For subq injections, tent the skin, insert the needle where the dent is.

[CarVsTree]

I have given volumes of 1/4 ml in the triceps or deltoid region. Try to visualize where that little muscle is as you feel it; don't go too deep. For the triceps, I always go in @ an angle.

For subq injections, tent the skin, insert the needle where the dent is.

Sounds the same as giving cats sub-q injections.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

I hate giving the vitamin K injection to a 400-500 gram 24 weeker only to see the thigh enlarge as I'm injecting because the muscle is so small! Oh, sure you can divide it into both thighs, but then you see both thigh muscles enlarge as you inject! And God forbid the baby moves and you accidently hit the bone. Just so hate doing it...