Chapter 15 - Parenterals Part 1 Flashcards
name 5 types of parenteral medications
- small and large volume injectable preparations
- Irrigation fluid (to bathe body wounds or surgical openings)
- Dialysis Solutions
- Biological preparations (vaccines, toxoids, antitoxins)
- Blood replenishment products
name 4 disadvantages of using parenteral medications
- Difficult to make; high cost
- specific equipment needed
- hard to retrieve – once in circulation you can’t get it out
- causes pain
name 6 advantages of parenteral medications
-if the person is unconscious (coma), we can still give them medication through IV
-not active when taken orally - no swallowing required
-rapid acting – placed directly into body. fastest onset time of any dosage form
-if someone in hospital cant eat, we can still give parenteral medications to maintain their essential nutrients
-drug depots – releases the drug slowly over time for less frequent administration
-implantable pumps – also consistent and controlled way of delivering drug
name 3 requirements for injections
-STERILE (free from all microorganisms)
-Pyrogen-free
-administered parenterally by health professionals (with the exception of insulin)
explain why injections must be pyrogen free
a small concenteration of pyrogen is okay.
however, pyrogen is a metabolic byproduct of gram negative bacteria. they are fever-producing organic substances
come about due to microbial contamination
name 4 parenteral routes of administration
-intravenous
-intramuscular
-subcutaneous
-intradermal
the intravenous route of parenteral administration is delivered where into the body?
directly into circulation
differentiate between the effect of IV administration vs IM (intramuscular)
intramuscular provides LESS RAPID effects but last longer than IV
why are intramuscular injections most commonly delivered? what is an important factor to consider when determining this?
muscle mass is important in determining this.
for example, intramuscular injections are most commonly administered into the upper outer quadrant of the gluteus maximus for adults.
HOWEVER, in infants and young children, this area is composed primarily of fat and not muscle. Therefore, the muscles of the mid-deltoid area are preferred for younger children and infants.
IM injections must be administered into skeletal muscles and not fat. as to be as far away as possible from major nerves and blood vessels
between the 4 parenteral routes of administration (IV, IM, subQ, intradermal) which goes in the deepest to most superficial?
DEEPEST – intramuscular
intravenous
subcutaneous
MOST SUPERFICIAL – intradermal
where are subcutaneous injections administered?
in the subcutaneous tissue (LOOSE) beneath the skin layers
frequently administered in the arm or thigh
where are intradermal injections administered to? give an example of when intradermal injections are used
just beneath the most superficial layer of the skin
used during allergy tests
is it a good thing if blood comes out after giving an IM injection?
NO – VERY BAD. this means you hit a capillary. IM injections must be administered into skeletal muscles
name the 3 ways in which IV injections can be administered
- bolus
- infusion
- aqueous solutions
what is a bolus? through which parenteral route is it administered?
a bolus is a single, small-volume injection. given through IV
explain what an infusion is.
through which parenteral route is it administered?
infusion is a SLOW, LARGE-volume injection (opposite of bolus)
administered intravenously
true or false
all infusions are continuous
false – can be continuous or intermittent
which parenteral route is used for blood transfusions?
intravenous
should drugs administered intravenously be aqueous or fat emulsion?
aqueous is preferred because they will mix with the blood in circulation and not precipitate, leading to a blockage of blood flow
however, IV fat emulsions (fatty acids) have gained acceptance to be used as a caloric source (vs glucose)
why are intramuscular injections administered?
what should be avoided?
administered deep into skeletal muscles (gluteal or lumbar)
administered in places with a deep muscle mass to minimize hitting a nerve or a blood vessel
can intravenous drugs be administered as suspensions?
NO
if a drug precipitates after injection, what can it cause?
emboli - blockage of a blood vessel. disrupts blood flow
can suspensions be administered intramuscularly?
YES
suspensions, or aqueous or oleaginous solutions
