Prefilled syringes

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Specializes in Homecare Peds, ICU, Trauma, CVICU.

Hello. I have been visiting this site for quite some time but have never posted before this. I know this has been discussed here before but I couldn't find the thread it was on. I was hoping someone here could answer this for me. If I remember correctly, when you have a prefilled syringe that also has a bubble of air, you are not supposed to remove the air? Is this correct and what was the reasoning behind this? (I have a pt that gets Interferon in prefilled syringes, but the air bubble seems quite large.) Could any harm be done by injecting this much air? Thanks in advance for any replies.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Pre-filled syringes WITH a deliberate air bubble are there so that there is no medicine deposited until the plunger is released deep in the muscle. This keeps meds from being given in the sub-q area. Does that help?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

We have two types of prefilled syringes...

Lovenox and Fragmin come in prefilled syringes that have an intentional air bubble in them that shouldn't be removed prior to use.

We also have narcotics that come in prefilled syringes. The air bubble in them is meant to be removed other than .25cc of air to seal for an IM injection (according to hospital policy). We actually don't use the prefilled syringes for injection...we draw it out into a regular syringe.

check this site and see if that is the info you need--those particular interferon syringes do not mention removing of the air bubble in the instructions for administration.

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Specializes in Homecare Peds, ICU, Trauma, CVICU.

Hmmm.... Now I'm really confused. This particular drug is ordered to be given Sub-Q. Can't imagine why you would need the air bubble in a SQ injection.

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Specializes in Surgical.
Hmmm.... Now I'm really confused. This particular drug is ordered to be given Sub-Q. Can't imagine why you would need the air bubble in a SQ injection.

I was taught that the bubble helps air lock the medicine in for a subq or IM injection. Keeps the (potentially irritating) medicine down in the tissue.

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Hmmm.... Now I'm really confused. This particular drug is ordered to be given Sub-Q. Can't imagine why you would need the air bubble in a SQ injection.

How about so that all of the medication gets out of the syringe and needle and into the patient?

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With the tiny amount of Lovenox that needs to go in SQ, the air bubble ensures it all goes in and that the med doesn't leak out of the puncture site. The amount of air needed to do any harm is so HUGE it is hard to imagine(like an entire IV tubing of air).

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Specializes in Homecare Peds, ICU, Trauma, CVICU.

Thanks for all your replies. This makes much more sense to me now. I am a new grad out of LPN school and the nurse I was orienting with would remove the air before injecting the medicine. Being new and not really sure of myself, I wasn't about to argue it. Now I know for my own future reference. Thanks.

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Any nursing 101 book should show what:

IV

IM

SQ

Z track

Air Lock

Injections are and why you would consider each.

Please pay attention to needle length as well of you think you are giving true deep IM's with a 5/8 needle to an adult.

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