Prick or injection: what types are there and can you do it yourself?

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An injection, or more correctly, an injection, is a method of introducing medications into the human body. Injections are carried out using a syringe and a hollow needle or using a needleless injector by injecting a solution under high pressure.

Types of injections

In medicine, there are several types of injections. Their classification is based on which part of the body the solution is injected into. There are very specific forms of injections, for example, parabulbar (in the area under the eyeball). But below we will talk about the most commonly used varieties.

Intravenous

With intravenous injections, the medication is injected directly into the blood vessel. The most important thing here is compliance with sanitary rules. In theory, any human vein can be used for this type of injection. But more often such injections are given in the veins of the cubital fossa, hand, forearm or lower extremities.

The main thing is that it is well contoured and with sufficient width of the walls. It is better to entrust an intravenous injection to a professional, since there are many nuances in the injection technique, and incorrect execution of the manipulation is fraught with serious complications.

Intramuscular

This type of injection is the most common. A kind of transport depot for the medicine is created inside the muscle, from where the medicine gradually spreads throughout the body, being absorbed into the blood. This helps maintain a stable concentration of the drug for several hours and thereby ensure a long-lasting therapeutic effect.

Large muscles where there are no closely located large vessels are suitable for intramuscular injections. Typically the gluteal, deltoid, or anterior thigh muscles are used for this purpose.

Subcutaneous

This type of injection is also called parental, which literally translates as “bypassing the intestines.” This is an alternative to taking the medication orally by swallowing. The drug is quickly absorbed from the subcutaneous tissue without harming the tissues or changing the osmotic tension of the blood.

A subcutaneous injection is used when there is a need for a quick-acting drug (for example, insulin for diabetes), when the patient is unconscious and cannot swallow a tablet, as well as when there are other obstacles to swallowing - obstruction of the esophagus or stomach, severe vomiting, etc.

For such an injection, it should be easily captured in the fold and not threaten the safety of blood vessels and nerve trunks. A subcutaneous injection is placed in the shoulder, but it can be the area above the shoulder blade, the lower part of the armpit, etc.

Intradermal

With an intradermal injection, a thin needle is inserted at an acute angle under the stratum corneum of the skin to a shallow depth. If the insertion is done correctly, when you press the syringe, a light spherical tubercle up to 4 mm in diameter is formed under the skin.

This type of injection is also called intracutaneous. It is used for local anesthesia, determining the presence of a specific immune response of the body (for example, the Mantoux tuberculin test, allergen tests), testing antitoxic immunity (for example, the Schick reaction to diphtheria) and some other medical procedures. The most common site for such an injection is the outer surface of the shoulder or the front surface of the forearm.

Intraosseous

The intraosseous space is an integral part of the vascular system. The same drugs can be administered intraosseously (intrasternally) as intravenously, and the rate of therapeutic effect is the same.

This injection method was first studied back in the 19th century, was widely used during the Second World War, and since the 80s. last century is included in the recommendations for pediatric resuscitation. But the method began to be truly widely used only at the beginning of the 21st century. with the invention of a special gun apparatus for intraosseous infusion. The fact is that it is not always possible for a doctor to administer medicine intravenously (for example, with extensive burns, in small children, if the patient is in a state of shock or clinical death). Therefore, the intraosseous type of injection is often indispensable when resuscitating a patient.

Intrasternally, the drug is usually injected into the tibia, humerus, or radius. Of course, such manipulation is carried out only by a professional, since if performed incorrectly, it can lead to bone penetration, fracture, cartilage damage and other complications.

Intra-arterial

As the name suggests, this type of injection involves injecting medication directly into an artery, usually the radial or tibial artery. An intra-arterial injection is needed if the medicine quickly breaks down in the body or you need to create a high concentration of the medicine in a specific organ.

This type of injection is also used to administer X-ray preparations for a more accurate study of pathologies (tumors, blood clots, aneurysms, etc.).

How to give yourself an injection at home

Sometimes you have to administer the medicine to yourself. This is not convenient, but more scary. What to do in this situation?

First of all, be determined. After all, the final result depends on confident movements.

The scheme is almost the same as when injecting another person.

• Go to the mirror, stand half-turned towards it. This way you can better see the injection site.
• Shift your body weight to the opposite leg. Second - relax.
• Wipe your buttock with an alcohol wipe. Hold the syringe in your right hand.
• Bring it vertically to your buttock, then quickly puncture the muscle. Try to prick so that there is a distance of up to 1 cm between the base of the needle and the skin.
• Slowly press the plunger, inject the drug, resolutely pull out the syringe, quickly press the napkin, hold until the blood clots completely.

Attention: if you inject the medicine into a child or into a thin buttock, then lightly gather the muscle at the injection site!

If it is difficult to give an injection in the buttock, then you can give it in the thigh.

To carry out the manipulation, sit on a chair and select a place to insert the needle. Then follow all the steps described above.

Many people prefer to inject into the deltoid muscle of the shoulder. Can this procedure be performed on the shoulder? It is possible, but this place is considered the most painful.

To cause less suffering, inject the medicine slowly, using a 5 ml syringe over approximately 30 seconds. After the healing liquid has run out, confidently pull out the needle and syringe, and press the injection site with a cotton swab containing alcohol or an alcohol-soaked napkin. Place the cap on the syringe.

What types of injections can you do yourself?

Often patients do not want to go to the hospital or go to a medical facility for procedures because of the need to give injections a couple of times a day. Or, at an appointment with a pediatrician, a mother may wonder whether she can give injections to her child herself, so as not to bring him to the hospital every time. The ability to administer an injection is a useful skill in emergency situations when it is not possible to quickly transport the patient to the hospital. In this case, you can ask one of your family members to give an injection, or in very desperate situations, you can inject yourself.

It is clear that not all types of injections can be done independently. Intraosseous and intraarterial infusions are absolutely excluded without the participation of a doctor. Intradermal injections have a rather specific range of applications.

The following types of injections are allowed without the participation of a health care professional:

• intramuscular;
• subcutaneous;
• intravenous.

There are a number of general rules before carrying out an independent procedure - clean hands, work surface, preparing everything necessary in advance. It is very unpleasant when you have already opened the package with a syringe and suddenly realized that there is no file for opening ampoules or cotton balls.

The parts of the body where you can give an intramuscular injection were described above, but the easiest way is in the gluteal muscle. Before the injection, you need to slightly knead and stretch it, wipe with alcohol. The needle should not be inserted completely with a sharp movement at an angle closer to 90 degrees, and the syringe plunger should be lowered as slowly as possible.

The correct injection is placed subcutaneously smoothly, at an angle of 45 degrees. It is done in the fat layer. For injection, you need to disinfect the soft tissue and compress it into a kind of fold. It must be remembered that a subcutaneous injection in the abdomen cannot be given near the navel.

Before an intravenous injection, it is necessary to wrap the tourniquet 5-10 cm above the injection site and ask the patient to clench and unclench his fist several times. After 30-60 seconds, the outline of the vein should be clearly palpable. If this does not happen, you can apply a warm cloth to your hand.

Before the procedure, it is better to give the patient a drink of fluids (if dehydrated, the veins are very difficult to palpate). If the vein is clearly visible and palpable, you need to wipe the injection site with alcohol, insert the needle at an angle of 45 degrees towards the bloodstream and slowly press the syringe plunger. After administering the drug, you should remove the tourniquet. If the vein is hard to see, it is better to refuse to carry out the procedure yourself and turn to a professional, especially since many institutions now offer this service, and it is very easy to find out how much an intravenous injection costs at home (in addition, our team offers on-site services).

Your own medical worker

Indeed, sometimes a situation arises when you need to give yourself or someone else an injection. You can't do without knowledge here. Of course, a nurse should give the injections, but we are talking about a last resort.

Where is the injection usually given? Most often in the gluteal muscle. Many novice home health workers are interested in the question: why are injections given in the buttock? It is possible to effectively administer the medicine exactly to this place. And why? Because the buttocks have the most developed muscles and there is little risk of touching the sciatic nerve and large vessels.

Before you dare to inject, you need to know where to inject. To determine the zone, it is necessary to divide one half of the buttock in half vertically, then horizontally. The result will be 4 quadrants. Each part is called a “quadrant”, not to be confused with the word “square”. Find the upper right quadrant and inject the medicine.

As a rule, a storage of the drug or, following medical terminology, a “depot” is created in the tissue layer of the buttock. And since there are many small vessels in this place, the medicine quickly spreads throughout the body. Yes, and you can painlessly inject only in the buttock, due to the smallest number of nerve endings in it.

If you do not have experience, then, after studying the stages of needle insertion, try giving the first injection to an adult.

Possible complications during the procedure

Before you decide to inject yourself, it is worth assessing the risks.

With intramuscular and subcutaneous injection, the needle can enter the vessel, which leads to its blockage - embolism. If the injection is given by a non-professional, a couple of days after the injection, infiltrates appear - painful lumps that arise due to non-compliance with sanitary rules or repeated administration of the drug in the same place. A more serious consequence is an abscess, which requires surgical intervention and serious treatment with antibiotics.

Intravenous injections at home with improper technique are fraught with vascular injury. A hematoma quickly appears at the injection site; the drug partially penetrates the skin, causing tissue burns. If a vein puncture occurs at the site of a blood clot, it may break off. With this type of injection, infection is especially dangerous if the rules of asepsis are not observed. It may be better to find out how much an intravenous injection costs with a specialist visiting, weigh the risks and make a decision.

A common complication with all types of injections is allergic reactions to the drug, which can be quite severe, including anaphylactic shock.

How to give yourself an intramuscular injection: step-by-step instructions

In order to administer the drug intramuscularly, you need to remember two rules - careful hygiene and the correct injection site. You cannot inject solutions into any place - there is a high risk of damaging nerve endings or large blood vessels, which can lead to serious complications.

In addition, the drug should not get into the adipose tissue or under the skin, but directly into the muscle tissue, otherwise there will be no therapeutic effect. After administration, a so-called depot is formed in it, after which the medicine is absorbed into the vessels and distributed throughout the body through the bloodstream. The concentration of active substances remains high for a long time, which ensures long-lasting effects.

How to avoid negative consequences or precautions

Of course, with any invasive procedures it is very important to follow the rules of hygiene and asepsis:

1. It is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly, it is better to wear gloves.
2. Select a work surface where you will open the ampoule or syringe. Place cotton swabs and alcohol there, which should be treated with an antiseptic. It is best to use a specially designated tray under the work surface.
3. During procedures, only disposable instruments should be used. If you accidentally touch the needle before an injection, you should replace it.
4. Do not forget to treat the ampoule with the drug with a disinfectant before opening it.

Before taking the medicine, you need to shake the ampoule and carefully ensure that air does not get into the syringe. You can practice drawing liquid into it in advance and removing excess air. Everything necessary for the procedure must be prepared in advance.

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It is better not to inject several days in a row in the same place. It is highly not recommended to inject into areas with compactions, swollen or damaged tissue.

During the procedure, your hand must be steady, so if you are worried or afraid of doing something wrong, you may want to consult a specialist. The price of an intravenous injection is not very high, and the consequences of a mistake can be very unpleasant.

Does it hurt to give yourself injections?

The sensations during the injection largely depend on the individual sensitivity threshold and the characteristics of the medicine. Some drugs (such as Heparin and Ceftriaxone) cause discomfort even when administered by experienced healthcare professionals. Doctors usually warn that the solution stings during administration and recommend diluting them with an anesthetic solution of Lidocaine (if this does not contradict the principles of treatment). You cannot adjust, reduce or increase the dose on your own, otherwise the effect of treatment will be zero or the opposite.

Minor bruises and hemorrhages are considered not a complication, but a side effect of the injections. They occur due to the fact that the needle enters a blood vessel, usually go away on their own and are not accompanied by unpleasant sensations.

How to give an intravenous injection?

With an intravenous injection, the medicine is injected directly into the bloodstream, which ensures the fastest possible onset of action of the medicine. However, compared to an intramuscular injection, the risk of embolism—air bubbles entering the vessels and arteries—increases.

The intravenous injection technique is as follows:

• make sure the needles and syringes used are sterile; they must be disposable;
• treat the skin with an antiseptic at the injection site. Most often, the injection is given into a vein in the arm;
• to prevent arm injury, before infusion, tighten your arm with a tourniquet just above the elbow;
• ask the patient to make several vigorous movements with the hand (fingers), or massage the palm. This will fill the veins with blood;
• stretch the skin and insert the needle into the vein at an angle of approximately 30° to the limb;
• slowly inject the drug into a vein using a syringe plunger;
• After completing the infusion, remove the tourniquet, carefully remove the needle and cover the injection site with a napkin moistened with an antiseptic.

After the injection, the patient's condition should be observed for several minutes. Sometimes longer observation is required - this depends on the individual characteristics of the body, the drug administered and other factors.

Intravenous injections are recommended to be performed only by medical personnel. If you or a loved one have been prescribed injections, do not attempt to administer them yourself. Contact the day hospital.

Preparing for the injection

Administering medications through injections into the buttock involves some preparatory steps. Hygiene is a key requirement. That is why the main rule of preparing for an injection is thorough hand washing.

1. You also need to prepare in advance everything that may be useful for performing the injection. You should take:
2. sterile syringe;
3. the drug itself;
4. cotton wool;
5. blade for opening ampoules;
6. medical alcohol or special wipes.

On a note! To make the injection as painless as possible, it is worth preparing a thin and long needle.

It is recommended to evaluate how easily and conveniently the needle opens before performing the procedure. To do this, you just need to check the ease of removing the cap from the syringe.

On a note! It is equally important to make room not only for medicinal attributes, but also for the patient himself.

1. It is also worth examining the ampoule that contains the drug. You should make sure that this is an ampoule with the right medicine and check its expiration date. You also need to shake the ampoule in advance by lightly tapping the top of the container. This will allow the entire composition to be “dropped” down. Before opening the medicine, the ampoule must be treated with a cotton swab dipped in medical alcohol. Only then can you file the container with a special device to make it easier to break the glass.
2. Then you can start drawing the product into the syringe. To do this, it turns the needle upward. All accumulated air should be pushed out with a piston through the needle. A drop of medicine should appear at its tip.

3. Another important point in preparing for the injection involves correct placement of the patient. If all the rules are followed, the injection is given to a person in a supine position. This pose is aimed at maximizing muscle relaxation. In addition, it helps to minimize all painful sensations. In addition, the lying position is the safest. After all, a standing position creates a high risk of needle fracture in the event of a sudden muscle contraction.
4. It is equally important to palpate the skin of the buttock with your hands before the procedure for the presence of nodes or lumps. If everything is normal, then this place on the thigh is disinfected twice.