Overview
This lecture covers various parenteral (non-oral) medication administration techniques, explaining their methods, uses, angles of injection, and specific clinical applications.
Types of Parenteral Injections
- Parenteral administration bypasses the digestive system for faster and more reliable drug delivery.
- Intradermal injections deliver small amounts of medication into the dermis, commonly for allergy and TB testing.
- Intradermal injections create a raised bump (wheal) and use a shallow needle angle.
- Subcutaneous injections deliver medication into fatty tissue below the skin for slow absorption (e.g., insulin, heparin).
- Subcutaneous injection sites are upper arms, thighs, or abdomen, using a 45° needle angle.
- Intramuscular injections deliver medication directly into muscle for faster absorption.
- Common intramuscular sites: deltoid (upper arm), vastus lateralis (thigh), and gluteus medius (buttock), with a 90° needle angle.
- Intramuscular injections are used for vaccines, antibiotics, and pain medications.
- Intravenous (IV) injections deliver medication directly into the bloodstream via a vein for the fastest drug action.
- IVs are critical in emergencies and are typically placed in the arm or hand.
Specialized Parenteral Routes
- Intra-arterial injections deliver medication into an artery, mainly for targeted chemotherapy.
- Intra-articular injections are administered into joints for steroids or pain relief in arthritis.
- Implants are devices placed under the skin for long-term, continuous medication release (e.g., hormone therapy, pain management).
- Intracardiac injections deliver medicine directly to the heart muscle in life-threatening cardiac emergencies.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Parenteral Administration — delivering medication by routes other than the digestive system.
- Intradermal Injection — injection into the dermis just beneath the skin.
- Subcutaneous Injection — injection into the fatty tissue under the skin.
- Intramuscular Injection — injection into muscle tissue.
- Intravenous Injection (IV) — injection directly into a vein.
- Intra-arterial Injection — injection into an artery.
- Intra-articular Injection — injection into a joint space.
- Implant — device placed under the skin for slow, continuous drug release.
- Intracardiac Injection — injection directly into the heart muscle.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Prepare for the next lecture on topical and other routes of medicine administration.